By Barbara Morris
Community members can get valuable information at the Eastern Queens Alliance’s June 12 workshop on parent awareness and gang violence prevention. The presentation will be 9:30 a.m. to noon at PS 176, 120-45 235th St. in Cambria Heights. You can enjoy breakfast at 9:30 a.m. and be prepared to participate in the workshop at 10 a.m. sharp.
Arrangements are being made to provide monitoring of young children free of charge during the workshop. Those who attended the March meeting of the Rosedale Civic Association or the March meeting of the 105th Precinct Community Council were given heads-up educational training on the whys and wherefores of gang recruitment, identification, requirements, communication and danger.
Our teacher was the NYPD’s Lt. Gregg Reutter, formerly with the 105th Precinct. Since he left, many other precincts and outside police departments have been in need of his expertise. As always, he gave us an exceptionally fine presentation, and for me it was wonderful to renew a most enjoyable friendship.
We were told that gangs start recruiting children when they are very young, applying peer pressure often difficult for children to resist, especially if there is minimal or no familial support and active communication. A child’s parents or guardians must be involved enough with the child and the child’s associates and be constantly on the lookout for signs of possible gang involvement or recruitment.
Some gangs have application forms for membership that require the names and home and business phone numbers and addresses of all family members of the potential gang member. So your child as well as his or her family members will be at risk. Gang leaders are tough and promise member protection. Some are so smart and sophisticated that they have well-established Web sites; they write and submit requests for government grants — and get them.
They come in various colors, religions and countries of origin and, although there are worse areas than New York City, as far as gangs are concerned, yes, we have them here. Please come out and learn more and thank Reutter and other officers trying so hard to teach us and keep our communities safe.
