Paris Police Department - Public Concerns

Public Concerns

Is my child involved in a gang?

A combination of these warning signs may indicate possible gang involvement.

· Live in high-risk neighborhood (unemployment, high homeless rate, strong ethnic community, few recreational facilities)

· Sudden change in friends

· Change of appearance (wearing gang clothing, unusual haircuts, tattoos, unusual eyebrow markings)

· Showing no interest in school (decline in grades, not active in other school related acitivities)

· Skipping school

· Disrespect toward authority, family, and school (resentful of authority, bad attitude)

· Frequent negative confrontations with the law

· Withdrawal from family activities

· Desire for excessive privacy

· Staying out later than usual (or staying out all night)

· Evidence of increased substance abuse

· Having unusually large amounts of money

· Identifying with martial arts

· Using unknown vocabulary, gang slang, speaking in fractured sentences, excessive swearing

· Using hand signals

· Using a new nickname

· Drawing graffiti symbols and names on books, folders, on bedroom walls

· Unusual pen marks, bruises, or burns on arms, hands, and body

· Asking for or stealing money

· Extravagant spending

Officers of the Paris Police Department volunteered their time, along with city employees from the Electric and Street Departments, cleaning up a vacant lot at 7th and Williams. The residents had become concerned of the health factors in the overgrown lot that was overflowing with trash and debris as well as a haven for drug activity.