Just last week, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the launch of its new Georgia Criminal Street Gang Database (GCSGD), and the Hall County Sheriff's Office was part of the pilot program that helped implement the new crime-fighting tool.
The database is just one element in Gov. Brian Kemp's new initiative to fight gang crime across Georgia.
"Because we've had a great deal of experience and we've been very active in trying to combat gang crime - and have been for years - we were kind of a natural fit for them [the GBI] to enlist our aid in the project right off the bat," said Sheriff Gerald Couch.
In fact, one component of the HSCO Multi Agency Narcotics Squad is a Gang Task Force, spearheaded by Sgt. Paul House.
House said since he began working with the Gang Task Force in 2006, gang crime activity in Hall County has "ebbed and flowed," noting that gang violence is not as prevalent in the area right now. Still, that doesn't mean gangs aren't active.
"I think that recognizing there's an issue is the first step to combating it," House said. "There have been times when people...have denied the presence of gangs and the harm they cause to every community. So, with Gov. Kemp's initiative on this and the help of the GBI, the DOC (Department of Corrections) and the DCS (Department of Community Supervision, that problem will hopefully be dealt with."
House acknowledges gang crime likely will never be eradicated, but the new database will go a long way to making sure partner agencies will be able to track criminal street gangs, gang members, gang associates and gang activities.
Lt. Don Scalia, the Supervisor of MANS, likened gang crime to a business operation.
"The crime is done like any other business - that's how they make their money, that's how they get their funds, how they afford some place to stay - it's done to further that criminal organization," Scalia said.
While Hall County and the other agencies that were part of the pilot program for the GCSGD are experienced with fighting gang crime, other agencies that will be able to use the database may not have the personnel to target such criminals. Couch, House and Scalia all agreed the new database will be life-changing for those agencies. And, of course, the agencies with experience will benefit, too.
"Agencies do talk to each other, but this carries it to a whole new level, being able to share intelligence information," Couch said.
The new database became operational on February 5. The GBI said on that date, the system contained the names of more than 100 gangs and more than 17,000 gang members and associates. The GBI said the data remains "fluid" and will change frequently. In addition to the Hall County Sheriff's Office, the Morrow Police Department, the South Fulton Police Department, the Cobb County Police Department and the Cobb County Sheriff's Office were part of the pilot program for the new database.
