EAST COAST GANG INVESTIGATOR'S ASSOCIATION HOLDS 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE IN Atlantic City

East Coast Gang Investigator’s Association Holds 20th Anniversary Conference in Atlantic City
By Eddie Molina

“We don’t have a gang problem here.” Says every local and state level politician throughout the New York/New Jersey metro area. Even chiefs and directors, who must balance politics with crime fighting, are heard echoing that same message. At least that’s the running joke in this part of the country.

But if you’re a street cop, correctional officer or investigator, you know gangs are real and they pose a serious threat to our communities. 

That’s why the East Coast Gang Investigator’s Association, or ECGIA, exists. Eddie Perez, president of the organization, told Blue Magazine, “We host conferences as a way for law enforcement personnel to network, discuss the gang climate, and compare notes that goes beyond the formal departmental route.” 

Without trying hard, I was able to connect Eddie Perez to a local police department official familiar with gang activity in central New Jersey. From there, they plan on maintaining contact to help each other.

That is the main objective of the conference: building relationships. Additionally, that is the most effective way to combat crime and criminal activity, by law enforcement working together across multiple platforms and from different directions. 

Here’s an example. A patrol officer conducts a routine traffic stop and, subsequently, searches the vehicle under probable cause. During the search, he comes across handwritten literature that appears gang-related but nothing concrete or criminal. The officer jots down some of the key names and terms. He then reaches out to his buddy in the county correctional facility and asks if he knows anything about the names and terms and the correctional officer says, “Oh yeah, that’s the nickname of a high-ranking gang leader that’s been here awhile.” 

That’s just one example of a countless number of ways knowing people within the law enforcement community can help. 

Another important aspect to the gang lifestyle is their ability to organize and communicate. Social media has made it easier than ever to communicate across the country, even over borders internationally, which is why conferences like these are so important. It allows its members that range across the country to build relationships. 

“The best form of communication is community engagement, that’s what the ECGIA is all about,” according to Tony “Pac-man” Moreno, former head of LAPD’s gang unit (www.gangcop.com). 

I was fortunate enough to attend this year and check out the conference on behalf of my department. The itinerary was packed with speakers from around the country who offered unique perspectives on crime and criminal activity. The speakers stretched from as far as Vancouver, Canada, to the southern border states (Mexican cartels) to Florida and all the way up to the East Coast, reaching our backyards. 

The topics covered were wide-ranging, as well. As a correctional professional, I never made the connection between credit card fraud and gang members, but I assure you, it’s a real issue. I also plan on giving a second look to the jackets of the next group of motorcycle riders I see going down the highway. 

Gangs are not just a local issue, they’re a worldwide societal issue. Conferences like these can play an integral role in finding out what type of criminal activity is going on in the country from the very mouths of law enforcement professionals who deal with it day in and day out. 

If I have a question regarding Mexican cartels that was triggered from a prison search, I can whip out that business card and email Frank Cortez, the senior investigator from the Department of Justice, and pick his brain. 

If you want to expand your reach within the local, regional and national law enforcement community, getting involved in the ECGIA is an excellent start. 

“We are always looking for new members. The more members we recruit, the bigger reach we have and the more help we can provide each other, says Perez. “Our goal is to prevent crime, which we do even though the public never hears about it.” 

That seems to strengthen their resolve. Helping each other, the community and empowering law enforcement officials. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the East Coast Gang Investigators Association, go to their website at www.ecgia.org

Learn more, get involved and make a difference!