Gangs have come to Harford elementary schools, police say.
“Gang members are being recruited at an early age and they are being recruited in elementary school,” said Sheriff Jesse Bane. “We don?t have officers in elementary schools.”
School board President Tom Fidler was shocked to hear that the county?s youngest students are becoming gang members.
“To hear the fact that gangs have made their way into elementary schools, that?s a huge wake-up call,” Fidler said.
Naturally, elementary students will often imitate older students, but some of those role models are in gangs, police said. The boardhad asked police to meet to the possible effect of uniforms on gang control and students? safety in schools.
An elementary student who flashed a gang sign when a class picture was snapped, causing the picture to be retaken, said Det. Andrew Berryman, who has been stationed at Edgewood High School for five years and has monitored its gang activity. The student told him he learned it from his cousin, a high school student.
More than 75 gang-related incidents were documented in county schools last year, and there have problems in every high school, Berryman said. He said requiring uniforms could reduce gang violence by taking away gangs? identity.
“What is the common denominator here?” he asked. “Clothes.”
Gang members? clothes, which may be as subtle as a handkerchief in a back pocket, or a bracelet, are signs of intimidation and recruitment, said Cpl. Thomas Gamble, head of the county?s gang-suppression unit.
“It?s a big billboard,” Gamble said. “They see the type of recognition these guys get, the influence that they have, and they get what they want.”
Troy Shuman, a C. Milton Wright rising senior, disagreed, saying uniforms will not solve the problem, and will stymie individualism and creativity.
“If you get school uniforms, you?re not actually curing anything,” he said. “You?re just treating a symptom of the disease.”
Uniforms are not the saving answer, but they will certainly help, police officials said.
“We all understand that you want to wear fashion, but we have to start somewhere,” Berryman said.
