Galt residents go gangbusters on citywide graffiti, violence
By Sara Cardine
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Last updated: Thursday, Sep 08, 2005 - 06:50:14 am PDT
Gang activity can happen anywhere -- on the streets of town or in a school -- finding it is just a matter of knowing what to look for.

Galt School resource Officer Juan Fuentes drove that point home Wednesday when he spoke to parents and school officials as part of a gang awareness task force forming in the city of Galt.


Related story: Galt hit by high number of home burglaries"All the problems we see out there are very likely to come on campus," Fuentes said of the citywide problem. "Still I consider school the safest place to be."

Police reports confirm rumors that gang activity has been on the rise in Galt in recent years. Evidence, such as confiscated gang paraphernalia, graffiti and criminal episodes, all seem to point to that same conclusion.

Now city officials want to make sure Galt residents can recognize the signs and symptoms of gangs in order to help stop problems before they get worse.

"There is hope," said Estrellita Continuation High School Principal Tony Lara. "There are things we can do to make things better."

Representatives from Galt's City Council, police department and school districts turned out at the Galt High School auditorium to hear a presentation from Fuentes on how to spot potential gang members.

From hats and tattoos to shoes and jewelry, gang references are subtle but plentiful in and around the city limits.

"These kids try to hide it," Fuentes said of the telltale signs of gang affiliation. "If you're not aware of it, they'll pull the wool over your eyes."

The group met on the Galt High campus to open up conversations with parents and educators how best to identify signs that children may be involved in troublesome activities.

New Galt High Principal Bernardo Olmos, who came from the San Jose area, stressed the importance of creating the collaborative effort. He hopes that better communication will mean faster response to a potential crisis on campus.

"This is just the beginning," Olmos told the crowd.

Members of Galt's gang task force plan to more informational meetings in the future, in English and in Spanish.