Sabresfansince1980 wrote:
I have always tried to keep work related comments to a minimum of detail when I post here for reasons similar to what is in that story. My unit was advised of this situation weeks ago because we're also gang enforcement, and because my area is one of many Mexican/latino relocation spots. This story is only a slight exaggeration of what gang officers face on a routine basis. We do surveillance on them, they do counter-surveillance on us, we return the favor, etc...
Public support is a huge issue for gang units. The pc crowd, and those with trumped up civil rights agendas are a challenge when convincing our superiors (those who approve funding for equipment, manpower, etc) to support us and our goal. If public opinion sways too far against us it will prevent funding due to political fallout. Luckily the gangs that are going to go to the extent of murdering us are Mexican/latino gangs that have very little support in the pc/civil rights agenda crowd. In Riverside County, funding was cut to them and they have lost a large percentage of their force over the last year. This puts the officers left at a disadvantage and clearly the gang knows this and is trying to exploit it.
Rutledge, FWIW there will be a gang influence and the resulting Mexican drug traffic no matter where you choose to work. It's very much like an insurgency, but for now most people and politicians want to keep their heads in the sand and ignore it for a variety of reasons (political, agenda driven, personal corruption, etc). Think for a long time about what type of enforcement work you want to do. Talk with as many current law enforcement in varying agencies as possible. It's not all the same, so take your time and choose wisely.
Well SFS1980, my uncle was a deputy sherrif on the Island, just retired recently. He was K-9, the stories he would tell me were off the wall.
As for me, I mean, we all did a little partying as kids, or most of us anyways, the dangers from when I grew up back in the 70's and 80's is tame compared with what you Officers have to put up with today. You have my support, just let me know where I can drop the courtesy call
