Gang Enforcement Unit
The Gang Enforcement Unit’s primary purpose is to track, document, and investigate gang members and the crimes committed on behalf of a street gang. While Chandler has been fortunate to see a decrease in gang specific crimes, employees in this Unit maintain constant awareness of those involved with street gangs and typically investigate any crime with gang-related potential. This unit has also become a widely recognized resource for assistance in many other areas. Tasks include assisting Patrol officers with calls, conducting surveillance with the Narcotics and Human Trafficking Units, and providing a quality source of suspect intelligence for investigations. Additionally, the Gang Unit routinely assists the Crime Apprehension Unit (CAU) in locating suspected offenders.
Understanding that it takes more than making arrests to curb gang activity, the gang unit also leads an effort in community outreach, provides numerous gang awareness presentations, and hosts the annual Gang Liaison Officer (GLO) training that is attended by law enforcement professionals from agencies all over the state. The Unit also works with the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) during Operation GRIT (Gang Research Intelligence Targeting). This operation served several purposes: crime suppression, intelligence gathering within Chandler, and building a partnership with another agency.