LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — A Lancaster non-profit is paying police to start doing special patrols with the goal of ending gang violence.
The group told Channel 9 that they are targeting certain neighborhoods to help protect the kids who live there.
The announcement came one week after police arrested more than a dozen people they say were linked to gang-related shootings.
Leaders said one of their goals is to just help families feel safe in their own neighborhoods.
“We service some of the population where gang activity is pretty heavy,” said Lanisha Blair.
Blair is the project director for Lancaster Promise Neighborhood, a federally funded program. It offers things like mentorships and educational programs to underserved communities.
But lately, Blair said she’s heard concerns from neighbors about growing gang violence.
“We wanted to make sure the community felt safe, and that’s why we started a partnership with some of our law enforcement agencies,” Blair elaborated.
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So they began paying off-duty officers with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Lancaster Police Department to do saturation patrols in key areas.
“So what our law enforcement officers will do is make sure they have a presence in the area so hopefully that will deter some of the gang activity because they know the police are in the area,” Blair explained.
Last week, investigators with the Lancaster County Violent Crime Task Force worked with federal agents to arrest more than a dozen people they believe were linked to a conspiracy to carry out several gang-related shootings.
“I’m extremely proud of the violent crime task force here in Lancaster,” said Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile.
Faile went on to say that the new partnership with Lancaster Promise Neighborhood will continue to work to keep communities safe from gangs.
“I think everybody wants to feel safe in their community; who wouldn’t? And it’s our job to make sure we can do everything we can and use every resource we have to make them feel safe,” said Faile.
The program’s director said the first saturation patrol took place over Christmas break, and she’s hoping it can happen on a quarterly basis.
She said she’s also looking into things like group therapy and anger management schools to keep young people away from gangs.
LPD Chief Don Roper’s statement:
“Like many of our neighbors in South Carolina and across the country, we have concern whenever violence or gang activity affects our citizens. Having a strong partnership with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies, combined with a collaboration between organizations such as Lancaster Promise Neighborhood or local Clergy, allows us to address these issues as problem solvers in our community. We believe this approach is mutually beneficial for all involved.”
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