Gang Task Force Examines Gang Problem in Chester County
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CHESTER COUNTY, SC – Police in Chester County are trying to make the case for more officers to fight the war on gangs.
A Gang Task Force met Monday to examine the gang problem problem in Chester County.
Last month, Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood asked the County Council for money to hire four new deputies and gang investigators after he declared a war on gangs. Instead, Council members recommended forming a task force.
“We’re not out there patrolling every night, but unless they educate us about what’s going on, we can’t know, and that’s the purpose of this task force,” said Brad Jordan, the Chester County Councilman who recommended the task force.
The Sheriff’s plea came on the heels of three gang-related murders over the past year, including a City Councilman killed in a drive-by shooting.
“Us law enforcement, we know we have a problem, but we have to get some of the other officials to recognize we have a problem,” said Chester Police Chief Andre Williams.
Williams says there are 300 to 400 known gang members in the county. In the city, Williams says there were 14 reported gang-related crimes in 2014.
“Our part is to let them know what we deal with every night, every day, and express how bad this problem is,” said Williams.
Right now, the Sheriff says he has only 5 to 6 officers patrolling at night.
“The gangs have been prevalent for a long time. It’s just the activity is picking up,” said Williams.
The task force will meet twice in February before making a recommendation to the county council.
