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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.