Gang activity appears to be back
by jp cola
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posted Aug 11 2012 12:00AM
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After a brief respite, it looks like gang activity is back in Willmar. A few months ago on the Open Mike show Police Chief Dave Wyffels brought-in officer Del Wagner who was retiring, and he warned that gang activity was going to be increasing in Willmar in the coming months. Wagner said it was because some of the old gang leaders who were jailed a few years ago were getting out of jail and coming back, along with other reasons. Now we have a report of a gang-related drive-by shooting at Regency West Trailer Park and a gang-related beating of a man who was thrown out of moving car near the radio station here. I walk my dog all over the northwest side and have seen gang graffiti on signs, walls, sidewalks etc. This is happening at a time when the Willmar Police Department is short of staff and has disbanded their gang enforcement unit. Last week was National Night Out, and there was no designated crime prevention officer to talk to...Marilee Dorn said she was now back on regular patrol duty. Surveys show Willmar residents' number one concern is public safety, so it would be nice to get another officer or two hired to go along with the two hired last month. Keep your eyes and ears open, and if you see anything suspicious, call the cops ASAP.
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