Some Longview Residents Urge Police to Release Gang Details

LONGVIEW — On the heels of a report about local street gangs, some Longview residents Tuesday called on police to be more open about the city’s street gangs, including the what, when, and where of their illegal operations. “We cannot fight what we don’t know about,” said Madolyn Scott, a member of Neighborhood Crime Watch. “We have to know what is happening in this town.” According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Scott said she knew gangs operated in Longview but had no idea there were so many or that some members are older.

In a story published Sunday in the News-Journal, Longview police Detective Lanie Smith said there are about 30 criminal street gangs active in the city and membership includes people ages 14 to 59. Smith said local gang members are responsible for a variety of crimes including theft, assault, and murder. “We may be moving among some of these people, and we don’t know it,” Scott said. Lamar Jones, who lives in Longview and is pastor at Galilee Baptist Church in Hallsville, said he, too, believes the community is entitled to more information about gangs and their activities.

In contrast, the Rev. J.D. Palmer of Mount Olive Baptist Church said he trusts the Longview police and stands by the department’s decision not to release detailed information about area criminal gangs. “They (LPD) should be as open as they can, but so much of police work is based on ongoing investigations and exposing certain information may hinder those investigations,” he said. “We shouldn’t expect them to expose everything they know.”