One grant will mold several police agencies into one unit to fight gangs.  

“I think the grant is going to be a very proactive stance to keep a gang problem from growing,” said Conover Interim Chief Steve Brewer. “(Catawba County police agencies) want to keep it from being a problem.”

Last year, Hickory, Conover, Newton and other police agencies, including Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, applied for an interagency gang grant through North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission. It is a two-year grant, which pays for intervention methods for the agencies.

“What this grant provides for is one person hired by the grant to do crime analysis and also identify gang members that are committing crimes against individuals,” said Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins.

The grant requires each department to pay 25 percent, based on their population, of the matching cost. Prices are different in the first and second year. In the first year, Conover will pay $1,743.02, Newton, $2,980.51; Maiden, $748.54; Hickory, $13,440.45; and the  sheriff’s office, $13,440.45.

“It provides money for software to allow agencies to track and dissuade gang and potential gang members,” said Maiden Police Chief Troy Church. “Our cost is relatively low in comparison to other agencies. It is certainly worth a try.”

In addition to a crime analysis worker, the money provides a computer and 1,500 hours for law enforcement to work in intervention. Brewer said the grant will allow police officers to work overtime for gang intelligence.

A crime analysis worker and other police officers will identify gang individuals or potential members. Adkins said those people will come to a meeting with agency chiefs, a district attorney’s office representative and a social worker or minister.

“We will have the resources to say, ‘Ok, we know you’re involved. We want to offer you an option to get out of gang activity and provide resources to do so,’” Adkins said. “We will have agency heads there to let the gang member know if you’re doing this in Hickory, the Maiden chief will know. It will be a lot of information sharing throughout this process to reduce this lifestyle behavior.”

Brewer said bigger cities, such as Charlotte, have the resources to intercede gang members and activities. Last year, Charlotte began working to remove gangs, Brewer said, and those gangs have moved to areas outside the city.

“They know we don’t have the resources to commit to fighting it all the time,” Brewer said.

It is the reason Adkins and Brewer said Catawba County Sheriff’s Office and municipality police departments can act as one unit to ensure gang activity doesn’t grow in Catawba County.

“All small towns are going to be targeted now more than ever,” said Maiden Mayor Bob Smyre. “We need to do something to fight crime and gangs.”

Adkins said Hickory police noticed an increase of gang activity in the city and in area communities.

“We wanted to go ahead and address this issue with all of the resources we have gained,” Adkins said.

Police departments said they are counting on residents to help, too. Adkins said community organizations can provide intervention by keeping youth involved in activities besides gangs.

“It’s another tool we can put in our box,” Adkins said. “It’s going to be a pleasure working with other agencies. We’re out to make the same goal; to make all cities a safe place to work and play.”