Groups gang up on youths
by Zac Evans
reporter

In the Fort Worth area, the average age for initial gang involvement is 12, a guest speaker told NE students last week.

In an effort to increase future counselors’ abilities to deal with young criminal offenders, Officer Wafeeq Sabir of the Fort Worth Police Department’s Special Operations Division/Gang Unit spoke to Dolores Sutter’s mental health program students.

Sabir, an officer for more than 12 years, gave statistics and advice to the students on dealing with gang involvement and activity.

Since 1983, the Fort Worth Police Department has identified more than 360 gangs, totaling more than 10,000 members.

“ The main means gangs use for identifying themselves to each other is through hand signs,” he said.

Other means of recognition, Sabir said, come through clothing, hairstyles, jewelry and graffiti.

In order to show that violence is not only a problem among minority youths, Sabir used examples such as Luke Woodham, Andrew Golden, Mitchell Johnson, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, all of school-shooting infamy.

“ Each student was from a white, middle-class, suburban background,” he said.

Sabir compared this violent behavior to those of gang members by acknowledging a generation gap between today’s youths and their parents.

Violent video games and violent lyrics in rap and popular music tend to spread the generation gap, Sabir said.

Sabir also offered statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding drugs, alcohol and violence among young people.

Caucasian high school students, Sabir said, are seven times more likely to use cocaine or heroin; eight times more likely to use crack; and 10 times more likely to use LSD).

Sabir told the students how professionals could best help troubled youths who are in counseling.

“ Concentrate efforts on the individuals you know have a support system,” he said.

“ They are the ones you are really going to help,” the officer said.

Sabir teaches on SE Campus.

Last Updated: 4/14/2004
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