New anti-gang initiative by SBPD is a great step in the right direction
The township Police Department deserves kudos for being proactive.
Rather than waiting for gang activity to seep into the township, it is meeting the potential problems head on.
About two weeks ago, Police Chief Raymond Hayducka created a new Gang Intelligence Unit to track potential gang activity and the new unit already is paying dividends.
It was instrumental in identifying and arresting a pair of alleged street gang members police say were responsible for a drive-by shooting in the Southridge Woods apartments on Friday. Because it had been tracking known gang members, the unit was able to link the shooting to a pair of siblings living in the apartment complex.
Police say the Friday incident was unusual, that gangs have not been active in the township and that residents do not have to worry about gang-related activity such as drug dealing. But they are concerned because there has been a growing number of gang members moving from cities into suburban communities including South Brunswick across the state.
"We would be naive to say that there is no gang activity," said Detective James Ryan, spokesman for the department. "We’re not going to put our heads in the sand. There is a gang presence in every community and we’re no different."
So far, the unit has been studying gang symbols and signs and has been investigating graffiti on buildings, street signs and elsewhere in the township. Graffiti generally is used to announce gang presence, police say.
The unit, led by Patrol Officer Jeff Russo, has already identified 37 known "gang affiliates" living in the township who belong to six known gangs. Police would not identify the gangs, because it does not want to give them the kind of publicity that might encourage them to become more active locally.
Police are asking residents to help. Anyone with concerns or information about suspicious activities should contact the police Detective Bureau at (732) 329-4000, ext. 7496, or dial the police main line at (732) 329-4646.
The department is hoping that, by keeping tabs on gang members and by getting residents involved, it can prevent the more pernicious activities generally associated with street gangs from spilling into the township.
We think it is a good approach. As the old adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

