Sangaree Connection

Yesterday evening, the third meeting of the Sangaree Crime Watch was held at the Palmetto
Land Baptist Church. The meeting was attended by approximately 50-60 residents.

Vice Chairman Joe Cornish opened the meeting by thanking everyone for coming. He invited the attendees to review flyers provided to the Sangaree Crime Watch by Berkeley County Sheriff department’s SGT Jackson. The flyers included information about gang awareness, safety tips for women and the effect of violent media on the human brain. Mr. Cornish then introduced Chairman Brad Green.

Mr. Green announced that the Sangaree Crime Watch is approaching almost 300 interested residents. He displayed a computerized map of Sangaree with pin points showing every resident who had supplied their contact information to the Crime Watch. He encouraged those in attendance to complete the Crime Watch Interest Survey Cards and to speak to their neighbors about the Crime Watch in order to increase the number of residents involved. Mr. Green pointed out that the more residents that the Crime Watch can represent, the more response we can get from the Sheriff’s office, Berkeley County Council, and other authorities.

Mr. Green also stressed that it is vital that Sangaree residents report each and every crime to the Sheriff’s department. According to Sheriff Department reports, there were a total of 75 reported crimes in Sangaree during March. Mr. Green asked the audience if they believed that only 75 crimes happened last month. He was greeted with comments such as, “At least twice that!� Mr. Green agreed with the audience and reminded them that if the Sheriff’s department does not know how many crimes are actually happening in Sangaree, there is no reason for them to increase law enforcement coverage for our neighborhoods.

Mr. Green then spoke about the problems with the emergency dispatch system. In Berkeley County, 911 is a separate department from the Sheriff’s office, EMS, the Fire Department, etc. In order to receive the best service possible, he offered tips on what to say when you need to call 911.

Due to the death of Sheriff’s department Officer Dawn Tillman, SGT Jackson and Roxanne Wiley were unable to attend the Crime Watch meeting. SGT Jackson was kind enough to meet with the Chairman and Secretary shortly before the meeting and provide them with his presentation on gang awareness. Chairman Green gave the presentation in his stead. The presentation included a video demonstrating how easy it is for a person to conceal multiple weapons in their baggy clothes. Also, the presentation included tips on why people join gangs, warning signs that your child may be involved with a gang. Signs to look for include:

• Low interest in school activities / skipping school
• Increased conflict at home
• Disciplinary problems at home/school
• Drawing graffiti, or graffiti-style artwork
• Drawings/homework with the letters “Bâ€? or “Câ€? crossed-out, inverted, or used improperly.
• Using gang hand signs/gestures
• Changing hair style/dress, having a group of friends that have the same styles.
• Photographs with others displaying gang signs, weapons, or gang-type clothing
• Physical signs of being involved in fights and secrecy as to how the injuries were received.
• New-found sense of bravery or bragging that they are too tough to be “messedâ€? with
• Using a new nickname
• Sudden, unexplained increase in material possessions
• Obsession for a particular color of clothing or desire for a particular logo
• Wearing pants with pockets that show gang colors when turned inside out
• Wearing colored-bandanas on their head or partially exposed in a pocket.

If any of these signs are present, you should not automatically conclude that your child is involved in a gang. Instead, you should talk with them to determine whether or not they are involved in a gang, and if so, at what level.

Following the gang awareness presentation, Chairman Green announced that the Crime Watch officers will be selected block captains shortly and encouraged interested members of the audience to meet with them after the meeting.

The Sangaree Crime Watch would like to thank the Palmetto Land Baptist Church for allowing us to use their facilities to hold the meeting.

The next Sangaree Crime Watch meeting will be held May 17. Please plan to attend.