Officer Will Jons is assigned as the department’s Gang Enforcement Officer.

His responsibilities include:

• Developing gang intelligence including, but not limited to, information regarding gang leaders, organizational structure, rules, practices, area(s) of criminal activity, methods of recruitment and selection, etc..
• Assisting with the training of department officers, schools, community groups and others on gang activity.
• Developing safe and effective strategies for reducing gang membership, including strategies that allow gang members to leave gangs.

What can you do to help eliminate gang activity?

• Report all crimes and gang activity to the police department.
• Identify any suspects to the police, as well as any street names. Remember information can be kept confidential.
• Remember that we cannot do the job alone and we need the help of those in the community.

What are the warning signs of gang membership I should be aware of as a parent?

• Change in attitude to include violent reactions, disruptive behavior, dislike, and refusal to submit to authority (parents, school, and police)
• Becomes secretive regarding whereabouts or activities.
• Change in friends; does not bring friends to his/her home.
• School attendance becomes sporadic, and grades begin to decline.
• Change in type of clothing selection, such as style, color, or type. Friends or associates dress similarly. Clothing may be altered with gang writing, such as hats, or T-shirts.
• Increase in gang-type graffiti on schoolbooks, notebooks, or papers. This may also be found on bedroom walls or other locations in the room. They may also mark themselves in the form of graffiti or tattoos.
• Son or daughter receives calls from subjects who refuse to identify themselves or identify themselves with a nickname only. They may also refer to your son or daughter by a nickname.

Parents if you start to see a change in your children there are people who can help...Contact Officer Jons at (541) 667-5100 ext.# 4021 or email at wjons@hermiston.or.us