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GRAFFITI & GANG BASIC TRAINING

Gary Pedigo

Neighborhood Services Specialist Westminster Police Department

What Is Graffiti?

“A drawing or an inscription made on a wall or other surface.”– American Heritage College Dictionary 3rd

Edition 1997

Defacement – “…including but not limited to painting, drawing, writing, or otherwise marring the surface of the property by use of paint, spray paint, ink, or any other substance or object…”– Colorado Peace Officer’s Handbook 2004/2005

Revised Edition

There are 5 Basic Types of Graffiti

1. General Graffiti– “Carving in the tree”.

Easy to read

Specific meaning

Usually one time event

2. Hate or Political GraffitiObvious hateful or political message

Easy to read

5 Basic Types of Graffiti

3. Graffiti Writers Graffiti– “real graffiti artists”

Typically non violentBelieve in “writer’s code”

4. Tag-Bangers - Hybrid Gang Graffiti– These vandals are a combination of graffiti writers and gang

members.“Crews” formed from different groups that use and emulate gang activityThey do not follow the “writer’s code”May or may not follow gang colors and symbols

5. Gang Graffiti– Territorial markings

ALWAYS follows gang colors and symbols

General Graffiti Hate or Political Graffiti

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Graffiti Writers

More flamboyant Graffiti– Multiple colors– Elaborate “pieces”– These writers are

typically older and have earned a level of status in the graffiti community.

Graffiti Writer’s Graffiti

Graffiti Writer “Look”?

“Piece book” - Always have this with or near themLarge amount of markers, paint pens, spray paint, etc.May have paint or marker on fingers and clothes Music – Graffiti relatedVery few true graffiti crews leftThese individuals are the hardest to identify

Tag-Bangers – Hybrid Gangs

Groups, gangs, crews that combine to create a new crew

Have “gangster” mentality

Graffiti will probably has some gang symbolism

May or may not utilize gang colors\symbols

Tag-Banging Graffiti “Look” of a Hybrid Gang Member:

Follow most of the same characteristics of the graffiti writers– Piece book, graffiti paraphernalia, paint on body and

clothing.May display gang clothing, symbols, colors, attitude, and activity.– Colors may deviate depending on the individual or

crew.Don’t “claim” gang affiliation, instead graffiti crew… Not GKI or WM Blood, just WNCK or RGKMusic – graffiti as well as gang relatedLittle easier to recognize

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Hybrid Crews

RGK – Real Ghetto Kids

THC – The Hibitual Criminals

TDK – Tippin Down Kings

GGP – Gangstaz Grippin Pistolz

TKO – Total Knight Owls

WNCK – West Niners Can Kill

HKS – Hittin Kings Spots

Gangs

Groups that form “sets” who identify with particular gang.

Most gangs have a organizational structure

Few gangs refuse to organize – Fresno Bulldogs,

Certain Crip sets

Gang Graffiti Gang Member “Uniform”

May have a piece bookALWAYS follow the colors, symbols, attitude, and activity of their gangHave “favorite” color(s), number and symbolsMusic – most or all of the music they listen to is related to their gangThese individuals are the easiest to identify once you know what to look for

Gangs in the Area GKI – Gallant Knights Insane

– Purple, Black, Colorado RockiesNSM – North Side Mafia

– Red, Black, White, Nebraska Corn HuskersCrips

– Blue, Black, many teams as long as predominant color is blueBloods

– Red, Black, many teams as long as the predominant color is redNorteno

– Red, 14, may dress more “preppy”, Nebraska Corn HuskersSureno

– Blue, 13, “ese” style of dress – pressed & creasedMS 13 – MaraSalvatrucha Black, 13, Satanic references, “open” devil horn hand symbolJuggalos

– Follow rap/rock group ICP (Insane Clown Posse), Psychopathic Records groups

GKI – Gallant Knights Insane

Predominant color: Purple

Secondary color: Black

Primary team: Colorado Rockies

Associated numbers: 7-11-9

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GKI Gang NSM - North Side Mafia

Predominant color: Red

Secondary color: White & Black

Primary team: Nebraska Corn Huskers

NSM Gang Crip GangPredominant color: Blue– Some Crip sets may use purple as

their primary color (Compton Crip Riders & Grape Street Crips)

Secondary color: Black, White, GrayAssociated numbers will depend on their set. This will usually be associated with streets/blocks.Primary team: depends on the set but most common are –Georgetown Hoyas, North Carolina Tar Heels, Denver Broncos, LA Dodgers, Toronto Maple LeafsMay refer to each other as Loc or Cuz

Crip Gang Blood GangPredominant color: Red– Some Blood sets may use green as their

primary colorSecondary color: White, BlackAssociated numbers will depend on their set. This will usually be associated with streets/blocks. Primary team: depends on the set but most common are: Georgia Bull Dogs, San Francisco 49ers, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Red Wings, red LA Dodgers, CA Angels, St Luis CardinalsMay refer to each other as Dawg, Damuor Piru

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Blood Gang Norteno Gang

Predominant color: RedSecondary color: White, BlackAssociated number: 14 – ‘N’ is 14th letterPrimary team: Nebraska Corn Huskers, St. Louis CardinalsDirectly affiliated with Nuestra Familia (NF) prison gang.Many Nortenos will have another street gang affiliation.

Norteno Gang Sureno GangPredominant Color: BlueSecondary Colors: White, Black, GrayAssociated number: 13 – ‘M’ is 13th letter Primary team: LA Dodgers, LA Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina PanthersDirectly affiliated with Mexican Mafia (La Eme) prison gangMany Surenos will have another street gang affiliation.

Juggalo “Gang”

Predominant color: Red

Secondary color: Yellow, Orange, Green, Black

Associated Symbols: Hatchet Man, Juggalojoker cards

Have loose affiliation with other gangs

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Juggalo GangMS 13 Gang

Mara SalvatruchaPredominant color: White, Blue – Salvadorian Flag colorsBlackSecondary color: White, Blue –Salvadorian Flag colorsAssociated number: 13 –originally, just because all other Hispanic gangs in L.A. did it. Some evidence shows they are beginning to affiliate themselves with La Eme.Primary team: Black or blue LA Dodgers

MS 13 Gang Remember All of This?

You don’t have to!

Bake the cake:– Some individuals may show some of these

characteristics but it does not necessarily mean they’re affiliated.