Our country's future....

Working in police work can make you cynical. But nothing could be as depressing as the working the jail. Granted, this is all the turds from all around Harris county and they are (for the most part) the dregs of society. An unschooled guesstimate of the jailers (who have handed this more than I) and I is 90% of our inmates are frequent flyers, to one degree or another. Jail and prison are just part of the their life. The remaining 10% are the store managers who got busted for DWI, the college students drunk and disorderly, etc. After seeing what jail is like, they don't need another taste.

Then we have the up and coming generation of career criminals. God help us all

Galveston Police Dismantle Organized Crime Gang

At a press conference today at Galveston Police Headquarters, Police Chief Henry Porretto announced the arrest of about 30 members of a gang made up mostly of juveniles who have been robbing and terrorizing people on Galveston Island and in neighboring communities since March...

..."This summer the City of Galveston has seen an alarming increase in Property Crimes and Crimes against Persons; specifically robberies, burglaries, stolen vehicles, and carjackings. Many of these crimes involved similarly described suspects and Modus Operandi (MO’s). In response this marked increase Galveston Police Chief Henry Porretto organized a task force of Galveston Police Officers comprised of a Sergeant and 5 officers to investigate and apprehend the suspects associated with these crimes.

"As a result of this investigative effort Galveston Police were able to identify and systematically dismantle an Organized Criminal Street Gang, closely affiliated with the nationally recognized street gang identified as the Crips. The investigation resulted in identifying a leadership hierarchy for this Organized Criminal Street Gang and was able to link them to the majority of the above crimes. The Crips street gang is one of the three largest, most widely recognized, and dangerous Organized Criminal Street Gangs in these United States.

"Officers assigned to the task force immediately began collecting intelligence regarding the known members and associates of the Omega Organized Criminal Street Gang. Within one week the task force identified and arrested 12 confirmed members or associates of the criminal organization for the following offenses; Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Aggravated Robbery, Burglary of a Motor Vehicle, Narcotics Possession, outstanding warrants, and probation violations.

"It was quickly recognized by the task force the majority of the Omega Organized Criminal Street Gang members were juvenile offenders. These preliminary arrests led to the recovery of a large amount of stolen property, much of which has already been returned to the rightful owners. The evidence recovered during these arrests and the statements obtained from the arrestees allowed the task force to assist the Galveston Police Criminal Investigations Division in clearing several previously unsolved burglaries and stolen vehicle offenses.

"To date the task force has arrested 15 juveniles, all of which are members or associates of the Omega Organized Criminal Street Gang. The majority of these juvenile offenders has been charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and includes many of the Omega Criminal Street Gangs leadership. The investigation is still ongoing and likely to yield further Felony charges. Due to the fact these arrestees are juveniles’ state law prohibits the release of their photographs and names.

"While the investigation into the Omega Organized Criminal Street Gang is still very active the bulk of the leadership, members, and associates have been identified, arrested, and charged.

"Concurrent to the task forces’ investigation of the Organized Criminal Street Gang they were able to arrest over 30 individuals that were ultimately not confirmed as associates of the gang but were suspected as being involved in multiple crimes unrelated to the gangs operation. The task force noted a rise in Methamphetamine and made 4 cases involving this particular narcotic with arrests made for both possessing and manufacture/delivery. The task force was also able to make numerous other narcotics related arrests for the possession of cocaine (both powder and crack cocaine), illegal prescription pills, and marijuana. The task force was ultimately able to recover numerous firearms from these offenders that were linked to a burglary in League City and multiple robberies within the City of Galveston.

The Galveston Police task force was able to identify and apprehend a suspect with an Aggravated Assault warrant in Texas City. This could not have been accomplished without the assistance of the US Marshals, Texas City Police Department, and Galveston Police SWAT team...

..."The task force was able to recover numerous narcotics, seize 5 firearms from felonious subjects, and seize over $17,000 in cash...

These are kids as young as ten years old. What a waste of life. I don't argue the chances are they were born into a rough life (single mothers who didn't raise them, fathers who abandoned them, etc) but this is beyond hope. As I've said, I'll always have a job. And that is sad.