The Gang Unit was created in early 2008 as part of Chief Solomon Cook’s strategic plan "to enhance police operations through presence, assignment and deployment strategies.” Chief Cook's vision was to create a gang unit focused on intervention and prevention to stop future violence by reducing gang membership. The Gang Unit will execute programs and policies in support of the overall strategy.

   The Gang Unit is headed up by Senior Officer B. Brown.  A veteran Law Enforcement Officer, Sr. Officer Brown has a vast knowledge of area gangs and is often called upon by other law enforcement agencies in Texas and beyond for gang information and intelligence.  Sr. Officer Brown spent 12 years with the Texas Department of Corrections at the Darrington and Ramsey units where he was assigned to the training department.  After leaving TDC, Sr. Officer Brown began his law enforcement career with the Harris County Pct. 7 Constable's Office where he served as Deputy Constable.  Sr. Officer Brown left Pct. 7 and brought his years of experience and expertise to the Humble ISD Police Department where he currently holds the rank of Senior Police Officer.  Besides heading up the Humble ISD Police Gang Unit, Sr. Officer Brown is also one of two department Firearms Instructors, a certified Police Instructor, Field Training Officer and a member of the Humble ISD Emergency Response Team. Sr. Officer Brown also proudly serves in the United States Army Reserve holding a current rank of E-6.  During Brown's 11 years of service to his country, he served in Iraq in 2003.
 

   The gang problem today is much more pervasive and menacing than at any time in history. Over the past 20 years, gang membership has crossed all socioeconomic, ethnic, and racial boundaries and now permeates American society. Gangs affect society in terms of heightened fear, crime and economic costs. Today we face the consequences of the gang subculture's alarming growth over the past two decades: a decrease in public safety, community image, and quality of life.

   The mission of the Humble Independent School District Police is to take a leadership role in reducing gang violence and impacting the quality of life in neighborhoods and making sure that our campuses are safe through the persistent application of innovative law enforcement techniques. This concept is based upon ethical practices and effective strategies that endorse the use of extensive prevention, intervention and suppression techniques that align the energies of families, schools, neighborhoods and law enforcement agencies.

Our goals are:

  • Reduce gang violence through the area
  • Facilitate collaboration between the department, contiguous law enforcement agencies, and the respective community we serve
  • Create a mechanism to disseminate gang statistics throughout the station to increase awareness

If you have any gang information or would like to report gang activity in your area, please EMAIL the gang unit. 

All information will be kept confidential

What is a gang?

According to the National Youth Gang Center a gang is a self-formed group of people who have the following characteristics: three or more members, generally ages 12 to 24; a gang name and some sense of identity, generally shown by such symbols as clothing, graffiti, and hand signs; some form of allegiance for a common purpose; and engaged in delinquent or criminal activity.

How do gangs function?

Gangs thrive on violence, intimidation, and notoriety for their actions. Members seek confrontations with rivals resulting in drive-by shootings, the sale of drug, robberies, motor vehicle theft, vandalism, or other criminal activity for money and recognition. As a result, many innocent victims suffer loss of lives or other potential threat.

What are the consequences of gang membership?

Gang membership has a terrible effect on the lives of all who are in contact with the member. Families of gang members are concerned about their own safety as well as that of the son or daughter who is a gang member. Education and friends who are not gang members are cast aside. And, members who are not killed or wounded end up as school dropouts with a drug problem and police record that limit future employment opportunities.

What can you do to curb gang activity?

According to the Houston Police Gang Unit, parents can do a lot to keep their children from joining gangs.

■ Get Involved. Become aware of what’s going on in your child’s school, neighborhood and community.

■ If you have a neighborhood association, get them involved to watch the gang crime patterns.

■ Learn about gangs and signs of gang activity.

■ Report incidents such as vandalism, loitering, and drug activity to the police.

■ Report all graffiti in your neighborhood to the police.

■ Be alert to non-verbal communication signs. Graffiti writing on notebooks, books, papers, sidewalks, fences, stores, walls, etc. is a territorial marker to gang members and a way to advertise the gang’s power. Report graffiti.

■ Be involved in your child’s life. Be aware of changes such as dress changes, tattoos, selection of friends, truancy, violence, and disregard for persons or property.

■ Find out if your child has purchased new and expensive items or if your child has extra money that can’t be accounted for.

■ Look for signs of possible gang involvement:

•Poor school and/or work attendance

•No participation in family activities or withdrawal

•Use of slang vocabulary

•Associating with undesirable people

•Staying out later than usual

•Desiring too much privacy

•Starting to drink or use drugs

•Receiving money or articles without parental permission or awareness

•Unusual moods or patterns of behavior.

Changes in behavior and dress can be a normal part of growing up or a sign of inappropriate identification and association. Know the difference by being an involved parent.

What can you do to keep your child from joining a gang?

If you believe your child might be exposed or attracted to a gang…

■ Talk and listen to your child. Explain the dangers and consequences of being a member of a gang.

■ Let him/her know that you care. Praise your child and encourage him/her to do his/her very best.

■ Express your disapproval of gangs and that you do not want him/her hurt.

■ Find out who your child’s friends are and discourage him/her from hanging around gang members.

■ Tell your child that peer gang pressure means that he/she is letting someone else make decisions for him/her. It makes him/her dependent rather than an independent thinker.

■ Encourage him/her to make new friends that are not gang members; provide new experiences or activities outside the community to expose him/her to new friendships.

■ Involve your child in supervised, positive group activities in school, in church, in the community. Give him/her responsibilities at home.

■ Do not allow your child to write or practice writing gang names, symbols, or any other gang graffiti on books, papers, clothes, bodies, walls or any other place.

■ Let him/her know that you will help with whatever problem he/she has.

■ Express the importance of education and help your child do his/her best in school.

■ Spend time with your child. Plan activities that the whole family can enjoy.

■ Set limits for your child. Let him/her know what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

■ Be a good example and model the expected behavior.

■ Teach your child to respect others’ property.

■ Know what your child is doing and with whom. Ask questions----Who?, Where?, When?, Why?, How? And follow up with your child’s activities to verify information.

■ Seek help from community services that help prevent gang violence.

Helpful Links  

G.R.E.A.T. http://www.atf.gov/great/index.htm

Gangs in Schools http://eric-web.tc.columbia.edu/digest/dig99.asp

National Youth Gang Center http://www.iir.com/nygc

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/resources/gangs.html 

 

  

 

Humble ISD Police
341 Charles Street
Humble, Texas
Telephone: 281-641-7900 Fax: 281-446-4044
Police Chief: Solomon Cook