SANDY RUN – Communities need to “move from talking to action” in preventing dangerous gangs from taking root in towns across South Carolina, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott told a group of concerned Calhoun County residents on May 1.

Speaking to the near-capacity crowd at Beulah United Methodist Church in Sandy Run, Lott provided insight into how gangs operate and warned the residents that “you’ve got to be proactive.”

Based upon his 11 years of experience in Richland County, Lott said Calhoun County can prevent gangs from becoming a big problem by taking action immediately.

“Please don’t make the mistake we made in Columbia,” he said, noting that Columbia ignored the gang problem and it was “like throwing gas on the fire.” Columbia didn’t come to grips with its gang problem until 10 people were killed, Lott said.

He said the Sandy Run meeting was a step in the right direction, but “you need to move from talking to action.” He added, “You are on the path to success.”

Lott said gangs are a community problem and noted that the solution lies with law enforcement, churches and schools. “You’ve got to be educated,” he said.

The Richland County sheriff said there are only two possible outcomes for those who choose to join gangs.

“Gang members end up in cemeteries or prison,” Lott said.

Recruiting for gang members starts in the second grade, he warned, and kids need to be taught constantly to avoid gangs.

“Churches can be the nucleus for the education process,” Lott said.

Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers said, “We don’t know of any organized gang activity in the county,” but he indicated that some gang members did live in the county.

“Gangs are not just an inner city minority problem,” Lott said. “We can be a victim at any time.” He reiterated that Calhoun County cannot wait until gangs becomes a problem.

Columbia had all of the national gangs – Bloods, Crips, etc. – except for one gang called “MS-13,” Lott said. He said MS-13 is the most dangerous and vicious gang in the world and that it is in Orangeburg.

Back in March, seven suspected members of the MS-13 gang were rounded up by local and federal officials in the Orangeburg area. The men were identified as gang members in part by their tattoos.

MS-13 was started in Los Angeles by refugees from El Salvador. Newsweek magazine estimated that MS-13 has approximately 8,000 to 10,000 members in 33 states in the United States and tens of thousands more in Central America. It is considered the fastest growing, most violent of the nation’s street gangs.

Lott said communities need to have plans in place now to combat gangs.

“Don’t do what Columbia has done for three years and just talk about it,” he said.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has implemented the school resource officer program and has 56 resource officers in schools around the county, Lott said. And, the program works, Lott said, adding, “Our schools are our safe zones.”

Deputies from Calhoun and Richland counties provided briefings on how to recognize gang signs and drug activity.

Summers told the Sandy Run residents, “I pledge to you, we will educate ourselves.”

T&D Correspondent Larry P. Jordan can be reached by phone at 803-874-3276. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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