We were talking about the 1970s, not the 1800s, weren’t we? Since I was a cop in the city at that time I think I might have some idea of what the gang deal was or, to be more precise, wasn’t.
> Since I was a cop in the city at that time I think I might have some idea of what the gang deal was or, to be more precise, wasn’t.
I’d be interested to learn your perception of what the gang deal was or wasn’t in NYC in the 1970’s. I’ve heard and read from several sources, but not from anybody from NYPD.
Gangs have always been in NYC. Cop or not, if you don’t know that you don’t know anything. Gangs were in LA in the 1950s, I should know, I lived there at the time, I grew up in the 1950s, graduated from HS in 1959, NYC had gangs then. Do you really think they went away in 1970? The biggest gang in the area of LA I lived in, Bell Gardens, were the Puchukos(spelling my be off)had a tatoo on the web between thumb and forefinger(a cross with spikes radiating out from it). The NYC gangs were less well known but they were there. Gangs started up anew because of the repeal of prohibition, the mafia needed something to take the place of booze so drugs were it. Gangs jumped on the band wagon because it was an easy way to get money. By the 70s gangs were flourishing all over the US, including NYC. Had your eyes closed did you? Must have if you were a cop then and didn’t know the gangs were operating in your area.