Caldwell creates task force to fight gangs

Fri., Oct. 29, 2004

Associated Press

In response to a wave of gang violence, city officials have created a special police task force in the hopes of combating the crime where it happens — on the streets.

The Street Crimes Task Force is made up of two specially trained police officers who can focus exclusively on gang activity without being hampered by multiple cases and calls, at a cost to the city of about $130,000.

Caldwell is putting every available resource into ending the recent spate of gang-related shootings, said Mayor Garret Nancolas.

“We wanted to make sure we had two officers who are doing nothing but the street crimes issue,” Nancolas said. “This is a pro-active measure to ensure we don’t have another escalation like this.”

Since July, police have received 170 reports of shootings in Nampa and Caldwell, Canyon County’s two largest cities.

A large number were gang-related, police believe.

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