Fear factor feeds loosely knit gangs

Scared students who fear being bullied are fueling a “growing concern” in the Venice area, say police officers. They’re forming their own gangs to fight back.

That is the chilling reality, officers explained to an audience of more than 100 parents, students and concerned citizens Monday evening at a Venice High gang recognition presentation.

“This isn’t even the tip of the iceberg,” Sarasota Police Officer K. Swatts told the audience. “The kids who are bullied are either strong and take it, or they join the gang out of fear, or make their own gangs to protect themselves. That’s what we see happening.”

Sarasota County’s gang unit and school resource officers (police officers on school campuses) were on hand to make presentations and answer questions. It was one of the best turnouts during the week-long annual series held at all five high schools throughout the county, officials said.

Wanna-bes

Swatts named a half dozen loosely knit Venice-area gangs, mostly around South Venice. They don’t fit the traditional idea of what a gang looks like, with no group ideology and little or no organized criminal activity, but they are well on their way, Swatts said. They have names and signs and are involved mostly in fighting and petty vandalism, she said.

It’s a concern for residents because gang activity is on the rise in Sarasota County — to the point where established gangs are recruiting middle and elementary school students, even in South County

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Fear factor feeds loosely knit gangs
Venice Gondolier Sun