Posted on 04/27/2005 6:12:56 PM PDT by Log
Gangs of Decatur: Residents concerned
By Chris Paschenko DAILY Staff Writer cpaschenko@decaturdaily.com
When gang members shot her mother's car two months ago, Amber Woods felt helpless.
And when gang members chased and shot at her brother's car in March, missed and hit a sleeping Mississippi couple's recreational vehicle, Woods nearly gave up hope.
Woods, 18, and her fiancée, Joe Manz, were two of about 150 people in attendance Tuesday at an Austinville community meeting, voicing their opinions on crime and gangs to Police Chief Joel Gilliam, Mayor Don Kyle and other city officials.
"My complaint is I live on Russell Street and called the police time and time again," Woods said. "There are bullet holes in my mom's Taurus, and we don't drive it because the Hispanic gang Sir 13 targets it. I'm tired of complaining, because the Police Department is not doing anything about it."
Woods said gang members were chasing her 17-year-old brother March 13 when shotgun blasts struck the RV at Cedar Springs Senior Campus on Spring Avenue Southwest.
"We called the police and said something to them," Woods said. "I came up here tonight because I'm sick and tired of nothing being done."
After the meeting at Austinville United Methodist Church, Woods said she still doesn't believe police will be able to do much to solve her situation, but Manz said it was encouraging to see city leaders take an interest in the Austinville community.
Gilliam fielded questions from the audience and directed those with gang-, drug- or property-crime issues to meet with officers after the meeting to address their problems individually.
Gilliam called the meeting productive as he stood on the church steps addressing Woods and Manz individually.
"Give us 30 days," Gilliam said. "And if you don't see an improvement let us know."
Gilliam told THE DAILY he has a plan to dispel the criminal element responsible for the gang-related activity of which Woods spoke.
"The visible part of the problem is what we can attack," Gilliam said. "What we're creating is designed to keep drug houses closed and (reduce) gang activity. This police department is not in it by itself. I have a meeting with the sheriff, and we can use the Drug Enforcement Administration. We have all the tools we need to solve this."
When Gilliam asked the audience how many people have seen a gang problem and burglaries in their neighborhood, only a handful raised their hands. A majority displayed their concern about vandalism and vehicle break-ins.
District 4 Councilman Ronny Russell and Council President Billy Jackson asked police to attend Tuesday's meeting, which also covered immigration, landlord-tenant problems, juvenile mischief and neighborhood watch issues.
Is this the same as MS 13?
I was reading about those animals today and decided that the islamokazis don't have anything on them. I read that MS 13 has a tendency to pull over busloads of people and execute them in the street as a warning to the locals. They also have a love of decapitation.
Another city beginning to feel the effect of our illegal immigration problem. It seems to be becoming a hot button issue in many cities now. Let's hope it continues and forces our so-called leaders to actually do something about it.
Another city beginning to feel the effect of our illegal immigration problem. It seems to be becoming a hot button issue in many cities now. Let's hope it continues and forces our so-called leaders to actually do something about it.
Go armed at all times.
I thought they were only coming here to work and be up standing citizens. Pray tell this new minority majority is going to be a blot.
Well, she can move! I know I would have. Why stay and subject yourself to this kind of stuff day after day?
The interesting thing about Decatur...is that it actually has a police department...and its not exactly a small town...so the department is fair sized. It seems to me that they need to get in gear...do some neighborhood watch episodes...show people how to do recon...and then actually start pulling gang members over for arrests. Once you show them that they aren't safe to roam the streets...they either shut up or move on. In this case...they will likely move on...but folks have to get up and get mad.
We've got Bama guardsmen who just got back from Iraq, and know how to recon and return fire...I'd suggest to put a couple of those guys in a squad car or two and let them lay down the law. Punk wannabe gang members...don't know nothing about firepower until they get it returned.
When I first read this I thought it was in California. But Alabama??? This is getting too close to home. What is wrong with our leaders?.....Stop this insanity.
We only need to empower our Law Enforcement agencies to do the right thing. The PC approach to LE and the pathetic hands-off approach of the INS/ICE is letting this perpetrate. We will be REALLY soory that we didn't take a stand sooner.
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