Does Detroit have a gang problem? Depends on who you ask
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By Andrea Isom, Fox 2 News -
DETROIT (WJBK) -
Citizens, police and city officials are at odds in Detroit over whether there's a gang problem and it all depends on who you ask.
Dozens of residents turned out Thursday night to share their concerns with the Detroit Police Commission. The meeting comes as the city looks at restructuring the police department, including the elimination of the gang squad.
"We need our gang squad because if you get rid of them, all hell's gonna break loose come sometime," said one citizen during the meeting at East English Village Preparatory Academy. "You know that and I know that."
In a recent survey of 250 Detroit Public School students, 80 percent admitted to being in a gang and knowing someone who was in a gang.
"We don't have the gang problem that we would have in a city like L.A. or some of the west coast gangs," said Detroit Board of Police Commission Chair Rev. Jerome Warfield.
Students at Denby High School are circulating a petition right now aimed at keeping the gang squad. So far, they've collected 400 signatures.
What do you think? Does the city have a gang problem?
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