TV Show Star and Retired Law Enforcement Officer Warns About Gangs.

Violent Gangs spread across the USAPhoto byLaw Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast

Los Angeles County, Ca - Highly organized criminal gangs used to commit violent crimes within confines of their neighborhoods. The used to be confined to only certain cities. Many of these violent gangs have spread across the USA. A star of a TV show, that is also a retired law enforcement officer from the LASD reveals the alarming rise of gang violence across Southern California and the rest of the USA. This highlights the crucial warnings and shocking truths shared by retired Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) Sgt. Richard Valdemar, a renowned expert on gang activity.

Sgt. Richard Valdemar, who retired in 2004 after a distinguished 33-year career with the LASD, brings a wealth of experience and firsthand knowledge to the discussion. Growing up amid gang culture in Southern California, Valdemar has become an internationally recognized authority on both traditional and non-traditional gangs. His expertise has made him a sought-after technical advisor for numerous TV programs on gangs, including many episodes of the History Channel's "Gangland."

Valdemar provides a comprehensive analysis of the growth of notorious gangs such as the Bloods, Aryan Brotherhood, Mexican Mafia, Crips, Hells Angels, and Mongols. With extensive assignments to the Major Crimes Bureau, Federal Metropolitan Gang Task Force, and California Prison Gang Task Force, he offers invaluable insights into the evolving gang landscape and the increasing threats these groups pose nationwide.

Before joining the LASD, Valdemar served as a Military Policeman with tours in Vietnam and Fort Huachuca, Arizona. His career in law enforcement saw him work undercover, infiltrate radical groups, and receive anti-terrorist training. Valdemar's comprehensive understanding of gang dynamics, racial tensions, and law enforcement strategies provides critical lessons for tackling gang violence today.

Commenting on the racial aspects of gang life, Valdemar, a Mexican American, said, “It was a racial thing, Blacks and Hispanics sharing the same limited resources. If you didn’t know how to fight, you were a perpetual victim. The first thing I learned was how to fight.”

Decades of gang warfare in Los Angeles have been dominated by the relentless conflict between the Crips and the Bloods. Many gangs identify with specific neighborhoods or "turf," which they mark with graffiti and fiercely protect to control drug dealing and other criminal activities. Larger gangs, like the Latino 18th Street gang and the Salvadoran Mara Salvatrucha, have thousands of members and branches throughout the region and country.

Gang-related violence and drug trafficking became deeply ingrained in suburban areas during the 1990s, leading federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to devote significant resources to combat these threats. This included targeting key gang leaders in an effort to dismantle highly structured gangs and addressing the influence of violent gang members from Mexico and Central America. Many gang members formed associations along ethnic lines in prison to protect their operations, creating powerful prison gangs that continued to control street gangs upon release.

Some of the violent gangs originating in Southern California that have spread across the USA include the Bloods, Aryan Brotherhood, Mexican Mafia, Crips, Hells Angels, and Mongols.

Don't miss this compelling exploration of gang culture and crime, available as a free podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, and most major podcast platforms. Gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by law enforcement in protecting communities from these violent organizations.

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Attributions

US DOJ

Daily Bulletin

Wikipedia