The Associated Press
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - State law enforcement officials will soon deploy scores of investigators, prosecutors and state troopers into urban areas in a bid to combat gang-related activities.
State Police Superintendent Joseph Santiago announced the offensive Tuesday during a meeting of state and local police officials at the Rutgers-Newark Police Institute, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported.
The department’s Street Gang Unit will expand in the near future from eight members to 38 in three regional offices in Passaic, Monmouth and either Atlantic or Camden counties. Santiago said this will make it easier to work in cities with gang problems and stem the flow into suburbs.
At the same time, the state Division of Criminal Justice will expand its role in a statewide narcotics task force, placing teams of investigators and prosecutors in 10 cities: Orange, East Orange, Irvington, Newark, Paterson, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Trenton, Camden and Atlantic City.
State officials said they want to help local police identify and infiltrate gangs and will focus on the drugs and weapons distribution that make up the bulk of gangs’ business activity.
“Drugs have driven crime and violence, and now the gangs are using drugs and guns to drive crime,” Santiago said.
State officials said the most prevalent gangs in New Jersey are the Latin Kings, Bloods, Netas, MS 13, the Crips and the 18th Street Gang, with the Bloods, Latin Kings and MS 13 considered the most dangerous.