Curfew Imposed At Bangor Base Gang-Related Incidents Prompt Commander To Issue Order
Spray-painted graffiti. Late-night loitering and chanting by large groups of juveniles. A near-confrontation between rival gang members that broke up when police arrived.
Scenes from urban Seattle or Tacoma? No. These incidents have occurred recently on the largely forested Naval Submarine Base here.
As a result, the base commander has ordered its first-ever curfew for minors because of growing gang activity.
“If you live in military family housing, you ought to be able to go out at night without fear of being accosted,” Capt. Michael Landers said.
The curfew, to be imposed in January, requires unaccompanied minors to be inside by 10 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on weekends. The families of minors living in base housing can be evicted for three curfew violations.
“Some people are really concerned for their safety at night,” said Lt. John N. Gradel, the base’s top legal officer, who wrote the curfew regulation. It was released at a base-residents’ meeting last week.
“Women leaving the gym late at night are afraid … because the ‘wannabes’ are hanging out outside the gym,” Gradel said.
Gang members and “wannabes” who aspire to join gangs include the teenage sons and daughters of Navy and Marine Corps personnel at the base, along with their friends, who can be admitted to the base as guests.
No serious injury or damage has been reported.
The 7,000-acre base, located about 15 miles west of Seattle on Hood Canal, has about 2,500 residents and will get another 1,500 when new housing units are completed next year.
Landers said he is concerned that gang warfare eventually could erupt on base if no action is taken. At least two gangs appear to be trying to establish the base as their own territory, he said.
“When they clash, we could have some serious injuries or even dead teenagers,” he said.
Some residents praised the curfew.
“There’s definitely a need here for this,” said Jody Foris, a resident of base housing with four children.