Department of Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry addressed attendees of the 10th Annual Eastern North Carolina Gang Conference held at the University of Mount Olive on Jan. 7.
“We have a growing, serious gang problem,” Perry said. “Ninety percent of violent crime is caused by gangs.” However, Perry said that North Carolina is ahead of most states in being on top of the gang problem because of the technological resources in place, good law enforcement and dedicated community groups.
Defensive tactics such as Critical Incident Training, Perry said, are providing law enforcement officers, prisons and Community Corrections alternative ways to deal with gang members.
“Force isn’t always the answer,” Perry said. “With CIT training, we’re seeing assaults in prison going down and morale going up.”
Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock addressed the morning session and emphasized the importance of community policing, saying that with better communication and collaboration, a higher trust is built and the incidence of crime is lower.
Breakout sessions included GangNet Administrator JP Guarino who works with the State Highway Patrol. He led a workshop called Gangs 101 Update. 
During the workshop he gave a broad overview of the criteria for validating a gang member. He discussed what gangs exist in North Carolina, along with gang terminology and many of the symbols that gang members use to show their affiliation.
Michelle Guarino, the crisis unit supervisor for the Chapel Hill Police Department, talked about how to create successful programming. She talked about applying for grants from the Governor’s Crime Commission before the end of January, and that other grants were available year-round. Guarino talked about interactions she has had with gang members.
“Their normal is not our normal,” she said as she showed a photograph of a young child on the lap of his father who was handling a gun.
“You need to heal the reasons as to why that person joined a gang. Be consistent, be creative. Give them something they don’t have access to.”
Guarino gave the example of a young gang member who lived seven minutes away from the beach but had never been to the beach.
“Be thinking about when that two-year grant is up and how you are going to sustain your program,” Guarino said.
Secretary Perry mentioned the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department’s Gang of One Program. A case manager identifies existing programs throughout the county – boys and girls clubs, Y’s, church groups – and finds relevant programs close to the at-risk child’s neighborhood, so transportation is not an issue.
Other cities such as Hickory have modeled the Gang of One program and similar programs can be established in cities where youth programs are already in place.
Other breakout sessions included Cyber Bullying, Boys and Trafficking, Police and Community Engagement. More than 300 law enforcement officers, school teachers, court counselors and members of youth organizations and churches attended the one-day conference.
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