Toni Hopper
DUNCAN — Stephens County Sheriff Wayne McKinney and Duncan Police Chief Dan Ford have positive reviews of Senate Bill 826 which specifically targets gangs and gang recruitment.
Both officers had a chance to review the complete bill that was authored by Sen. Anthony Sykes and co-authored by Duncan legislator, Rep. Dennis Johnson.
“I think the entire thing was thought out well and put together well,” McKinney said Wednesday.
Ford said he likes the fact that the bill offers added protection to schools and educators who suspect gang recruitment is taking place.
McKinney said the bill gives law enforcement an additional tool in the battle against gangs and their activities. McKinney does think there are “elements to think about.”
“It (the bill) sends a very clear message to the gangs in our area and this state that we are not going to tolerate it,” he said.
McKinney said he’s also talked with a few legislators that have indicated to him their support of SB 826.
“You look at these enhancers in here. The mandatory sentencing is what we need,” he said.
Should the bill pass and receive the Governor’s approval, those found guilty of gang activities will be required to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.
The only drawback that either McKinney or Ford can see is proving someone is a gang member who recruits.
“Getting somebody to let their kids testify is another thing,” Ford said. And he noted that the Duncan Police Department uses a Tulsa-standard to pinpoint gangs.
“One of the things is we have to certify gang identity,” Ford said. Just following a standard set of criteria makes it a difficult task. The Tulsa-standard helps in that effort.
McKinney said there has not been any homicides in the county this year, though there have been drive-by shootings in both the county and the city, and shootings with intent-to-kill.
“We do have gang influence in the county, but we do not have it like Comanche County and we want it to stay that way. We want to eradicate it completely,” he said.
Language in the bill also targets those who attempt to intimidate or influence a witness in a case.
“We did have that and the witness, she was shot. We’ve always had statutes, this just adds a little more teeth,” McKinney said.
“It’s like other bills across the country that we’ve seen. We like the whole thing, our job is to put the probable cause on,” Ford said.
McKinney agreed.
“They’ll recruit these young kids and use them selling the drugs or running these drugs. The key is being able to prove it,” McKinney said.
— Toni Hopper is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. She can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 132 or by e-mail at: toni.hopper@duncanbanner.com.
