Has Umatilla’s gang problem decreased so greatly in the past five years residents no longer see it as a concern? Or was Tuesday night’s limited turnout a symptom of widespread apathy?
The city of Umatilla hosted an open house to discuss gang concerns and prevention programs, but only five audience members attended. Speakers included Umatilla Police Chief Darla Huxel, School District Superintendent Heidi Sipe and gang prevention officer Natalia Tovey.
Much discussion focused on prevention efforts in the Umatilla School District.
The district has a zero tolerance policy for gangs which prohibits students from displaying any symbols or jewelry showing gang symbols or more than three pieces of clothing in a gang-affiliated color. The district defines a gang as a “group that identifies itself through the use of a name, unique appearance or language, including hand signs, the claiming of geographical territory or the espousing of a distinctive belief system that frequently results in criminal activity.”
Although the district’s “gang-related” incidents include intimidation and posturing by a group, Sipe provided meeting attendees with statistics on incidents involving illegal drugs, controlled substances (alcohol and tobacco), fighting and vandalism because those incidents may be associated with gang behavior.
Within the Umatilla School District, disciplinary actions are closely tracked and recorded according to a discipline matrix. A district team evaluated disciplinary actions once a quarter to make sure discipline fit infractions and all students are treated equally.
“It’s not perfect, but the key things that I think makes a huge difference is the kids know we’re checking this and we’re trying to make it fair and equitable,” Sipe said. “The kids really appreciate that.”
Huxel and Tovey spoke about the city’s gang issues but said it is very difficult to provide statistics for gang-related crimes because of regulations on classifying someone as affiliated with a gang.
“In the adult law enforcement world, we have to be very careful in labeling people,” the chief said. “I am very well aware that there are gangs in the city of Umatilla, in the county of Umatilla and throughout Oregon.”
Huxel said officers keep a “pulse” on gangs and affiliated individuals and do make every effort to connect with students before they become involved with gangs through the GREAT – Gang Resistance Education and Training – program and other collaborations with the school district.
Tovey said she and other officers have been able to get involved with the schools and have a comfortable relationship with them.
“I will get a text in the middle of the day if there’s so much as a letter or a picture a student has sketched out saying, ‘What’s this?’” Tovey said.
City Councilman Lyle Smith said he asked for the meeting for two reasons – to keep discussion open about the issue, and in memory of former mayor Pat Lafferty, whom Smith said had always talked about gang prevention.
“I don’t think we have any more of a problem than anywhere else, but I didn’t want it to escape us. If you think you don’t have a problem long enough, you have a problem,” he said.
At the end of the meeting, those in attendance – city representatives as well as audience members – said they had no questions or additional concerns about the gang situation in the city of Umatilla but they were concerned by the lack of turnout for the meeting.
“If a person is not willing to stand up and voice their complaint to someone, they don’t have a complaint,” resident Tom Love said.
Council members agreed.
“Kids that don’t have enough to do act like kids that don’t have a lot to do, and they get in trouble,” Smith said. “I do think the amount of apathy in this town is astounding.”
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