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REPORT IDENTIFIES GANGS IN MIDDLE TN
WHILE GANGS HAVEN'T ESTABLISHED A STRONG PRESENCE IN LAWRENCE COUNTY, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE AWARE THAT COULD CHANGE AT ANY TIME. THE TENNESSEAN RECENTLY PRESENTED THE GANGS OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE REPORT IDENTIFYING GANG PRESENCE, DIFFERENT GROUPS, THEIR HISTORY AND CRIMES. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE, NINE DIFFERENT GANGS OPERATE IN MAURY COUNTY, THREE OF WHICH - THE GANGSTER DISCIPLES, THE BLOODS AND THE CRIPS - HAVE MADE THEIR WAY TO LAWRENCE COUNTY. THE CRIPS WERE THE ONLY GANG IDENTIFIED IN GILES COUNTY. THE ARTICLE SAYS ALL THREE GROUPS STARTED IN TENNESSEE IN THE 1980S. THE GANGSTER DISCIPLES ARE MOSTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND ONE OF THE MOST ORGANIZED AND LARGEST GANGS IN THE STATE. THE BLOODS, MADE UP OF ALL RACES, AND CRIPS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND CAUCASIAN AND ARE LESS ORGANIZED. CRIMES OF THE THREE GROUPS RANGE FROM VANDALISM TO HOMICIDE. LAWRENCE COUNTY CHIEF DEPUTY TERRY BEECHAM SAYS GANG ACTIVITY HASN'T TAKEN ROOT HERE BUT THAT THE THREAT DOES EXIST AND SAYS IT'S "KNOCKING ON THE DOOR." HE SAYS LOCAL OFFICERS HAVE JOINED OTHERS IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT GANGS AND THAT COMMUNICATION AMONGST AGENCIES IS ONE KEY IN COMBATING THE PROBLEM.
WHILE GANGS HAVEN'T ESTABLISHED A STRONG PRESENCE IN LAWRENCE COUNTY, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE AWARE THAT COULD CHANGE AT ANY TIME. THE TENNESSEAN RECENTLY PRESENTED THE GANGS OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE REPORT IDENTIFYING GANG PRESENCE, DIFFERENT GROUPS, THEIR HISTORY AND CRIMES. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE, NINE DIFFERENT GANGS OPERATE IN MAURY COUNTY, THREE OF WHICH -