Oh my God how pathetic do you have to be to be a thug and have a website? LOL "Hello Society, look at us, we're STUPID!! Now everyone knows what we look like and we're gonna be on TV!!" (Don't tell 'em that a computer monitor is NOT a TV screen, they'll cry.)
All the neighborhood has to do is get together and run 'em off.
With most of the African-American contingent based in churches, there should be PLENTY of people to go into this neighborhood and put the squeeze on these losers.
Don't tell me there is not a huge religious group of people, I saw the pictures on Jack Ford's website. There are ample African-American community leaders to get the job done.
Guarenteed spending time with a church group with publicity standing in the middle of the block exploiting these freaks will solve the problem before summer gets going and then a nice murder wave kicks up and no one knows what to do except hold press conferences assuring the citizens everything is being done.
(Notice that I haven't involved the police in this post? It's because there is no gang unit anymore...lost in the budget cuts.)
posted by BrianInFlorida at 04:31 A.M. EST on Thu Jul 07, 2005 #
Gang unit lost in the budget...oohhh, another proud Jack Ford moment! It probably slipped away while he was sleeping more than my cat!
posted by fequalsma73 at 02:33 P.M. EST on Thu Jul 07, 2005 #
Dont waste your time worrying about these kids. They talk tough but look at them in the eye. They almost look like church boyz.
posted by swantucky at 03:29 P.M. EST on Thu Jul 07, 2005 #
Some residents let their homes and yards look bad; weeds so tall that Osama Bin Laden could set up camp in, litter strewn everywhere, 40 oz bottles lined up on the porch rail for weeks. Is it really that hard to take care of your own place? As far as the gang task force, seems the responsibility starts at home - the task force should be family , not the police, at least not all of the time. Also, we have a neighbor who is an undercover SED gang force officer, so the presence of the police is there. See it or not.
posted by Boota at 05:04 A.M. EST on Fri Jul 08, 2005 #
Unfortunately the gang activity in the city of Toledo is more widespread than we want to admit. Having an understaffed police department doesn't help. They do the best they can, but can't be everywhere all the time. Not humanly possible.
Vigilance is our best ally. Don't be afraid to make notes of cars, activity, descriptions, anything that will perk your memory when talking at a Block Watch meeting. (Assuming that you are concerned enough to participate in Block Watch.)
Gangs thrive on fear and intimidation. Gang leaders are nothing more than cowards that have to gather groups around them to carry out all the idiot antics that they don't have the nerve to do themselves. The young folks that get suckered into the gangs are there because they get the recognition and (false) praise that they THINK they are missing at home. Some are, some aren't but think they are and that's just as bad.
There are many factions to the gang assemblies. Some are transplants, some are copy cats, some are 'entrepreneurial' in spirit, and some are just mean.
I personally am a member of the working class, tax paying, law abiding HUMAN RACE gang.
If we can ever get our city back on track with enough police officers to safely serve our population, then the gangs wouldn't feel so comfortable about stopping in Toledo and bullying the folks that call it home.
And Boota, the whole purpose of being undercover is to not be seen. Thank God there are those that are good at it. Thank your neighbor for doing one of the most thankless jobs on the earth - taking out the trash.
posted by DoknowDocare at 11:19 P.M. EST on Fri Jul 08, 2005 #
My advice, buy a gun, get the training to know how to use it, and get your CHL. It is not the police's job to protect individual citizens, that much has been proven by the Supreme Court. It is up to you, the private citizen to protect yourself and your family.
posted by JeepMaker at 01:27 P.M. EST on Fri Jul 15, 2005 #
More on the Dexter Boyz from the Codependent Collegian (well, sort of):
http://www.codependentcollegian.blogspot.com/
posted by historymike at 09:51 P.M. EST on Sun Jul 24, 2005 #
Aug 10 Toledo Free Press story about a North Toledo man confronting the gangs.
"A North Toledo man said threats on his life and high levels of gang activity in his Lagrange Street neighborhood have prompted him to begin carrying a gun."
The police took his gun.
"According to police, Szych was videotaping his next-door neighbors cleaning up garbage in the alley when he brandished his gun in front of an 11-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy."
"Szych was licensed to carry a concealed weapon after obtaining a temporary concealed-carry permit from the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office two weeks ago. But now he must petition police to have the gun returned to him. “I’m very upset because now all these gangs [that] were out there know I don’t have a gun now," said Szych, a resident of the neighborhood for 35 years."
"The prosecutor’s office determined there was not enough evidence to follow through with issuing charges after the gun-pointing incident last week."
But the police still have his gun?
"Two juveniles, one of them allegedly Szych’s next-door neighbor, broke into Szych’s house Saturday night while he and his family were at a drive-in movie, police reported Szych said they found the kids exiting the house when they pulled up and held them at gunpoint until police arrived. Szych said police arrested one of the kids and released the other to his mother (Szych’s neighbor) because of a health problem."
Arrest the damn parents.
"Dexter Boyz. For the past month, Szych said gang activity has flared up in this neighborhood, with graffiti, death threat notices and loitering becoming almost a daily occurrence."
"Szych said his videotaping of gang members writing graffiti on garages is what prompted the notices attached to the back of his garage. These printed letters say if Szych does not move out of the neighborhood immediately, he will be killed."
"Police have been out to speak with Szych and investigate the disturbances multiple times. In one instance on July 25 when a shootout nearly occurred in front of Szych’s house between himself and gang members, officers did not arrest any individuals or take an official report. This prompted Szych to file a complaint with Toledo Police Department Internal Affairs on July 26."
"Heffernan said arrests have been made since then, however, with the Gang Task Force Unit arresting a group of individuals in the neighborhood on July 29. He also noted police reviewed Szych’s videotapes of youth writing graffiti on garages and have been able to identify a few individuals."
"Officers have advised Szych against taking matters into his own hands."
Screw that advice. Szych said:
"A whole gang of kids have been over here threatening my life, threatening to kill me. And I told them that if they came any further on my property, I was going to shoot them."
posted by jr at 09:40 P.M. EST on Thu Aug 11, 2005 #
Now how else do you think these coward punk losers get press? Intimidate the neighbors!
It's quite apparent my warning from my earlier post went unheeded. Now these children have rooted themselves like a tick and are "marking" the neighborhood. One neighbor makes a stand and the police throw a wall in his path? What kind of message is that sending?
Jack Ford is personally responsible for not having the foresight to see this would happen when he cut these programs within the police force, including the gang task force. Good going Jack.
Fortunately, no one has been killed yet. It won't be long before a neighbor or two takes the law into their own hands and purge the scurge from their neighborhood.
I also want to add it is nice to see these African-American activists taking part in community affairs and helping this neighborhood regain it's luster and pride. Not. Unless it's happening on Door Street, it dosen't exist. Again, Jack Ford, you failed Toledo.
To redeem yourself, Jack, I suggest you go to the "Dexter Boys" lair and chastize them on their flaws and remind them what their antics are doing to your culture. By yourself. Show the neighborhood there's nothing to fear and provide the citizens their neighborhood to walk free instead of hiding in their homes out of fear.
Wilkowski, ain't this your neighborhood? Time to step up to the podium with your "caped crusader"!
posted by BrianInFlorida at 04:49 A.M. EST on Fri Aug 12, 2005 #
Jack would never step foot on Dexter Street, and Wilkowski seems hell bent on just "running" through the neighborhoods.
TPD should return Szych's gun PRONTO. I think they are probably afraid that he will be placed in a position to shoot one of the little turds and then they will have a full blown riot on their hands. Beind understaffed and poorly utilized (thanks again Jack) the wouldn't be able to handle the chaos.
Also, TPD would then have to account for why they haven't done anything to respond to Szych's complaints. Gee - what a concept - actually think that a citizen might be making a legit complaint.
Makes me disgusted with the whole thing!
posted by DoknowDocare at 06:19 A.M. EST on Fri Aug 12, 2005 #
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