Chicago Police Officers

The gangs of Chicago

Chicago, a city in the state of Illinois and the largest in the Midwest. With its population of over 2.8 million people located almost entirely in Cook County (a small portion of O'Hare International Airport overlaps into DuPage County), Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. The population of Chicago's metropolitan area, which covers several counties, contains over 9.7 million people in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, making it the third largest metropolitan area in the U.S.Chicago is classified as an alpha world city.

Located at the site of a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed, Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837. It rapidly became a major transportation hub, as well as the business, financial, and cultural capital of the Midwest.

Regionally, Chicago can be divided by the river and its branches into three main sections: the North Side, the South Side, and the West Side. In the late 1920s the city was subdivided into 77 "community areas" by sociologists at the University of Chicago. The boundaries of the community areas are better defined than those of the over 210 neighborhoods throughout the city, allowing for better year-by-year comparisons.

Downtown and The Loop

The downtown area, lying somewhat roughly between Division Street on the north, Lake Michigan on the east, Roosevelt Road on the south and DesPlaines Avenue on the west, is the main commercial and cultural section of the city and includes the city's tallest buildings. In recent years, downtown has become so popular it has taken on the additional role as a residential enclave, with a high number of residents living there. The area of the Loop, located within downtown, was named for a circuit of cable cars and later for the elevated train Loop where practically all branches of the CTA elevated and subway trains lead. Some of downtown's commercial, cultural, and financial institutions are located in the Loop.

North Side

The city's North Side (extending north of downtown along the lakefront) is the most densely populated residential section of the city. It contains public parkland and beaches stretching for miles along Lake Michigan to the city's northern border. Much of the North Side has benefited from of an economic boom which began in the 1990s. For example, the River North area, located just north of the Chicago River and the Loop, has undergone a transition from a warehouse district to an active commercial, residential, and entertainment hub, featuring the city's largest concentration of contemporary art galleries. Just west of River North's galleries and bistros, demolition of the CHA's Cabrini-Green housing project began in 2003, being replaced by upscale townhomes.

South Side

The South Side (extending south of downtown along Lake Michigan) is the largest section of the city, encompassing roughly 60% of the city's land area. The section along the lake is marked with public parkland and beaches. The South Side has a higher ratio of single-family homes and also contains most of the city's industry.

Along with being the largest section of the city in terms of geography, the South Side is also home to two of the city's largest parades: the annual Bud Billiken Day parade, which is held during the second weekend of August and celebrates children returning to school, and the South Side Irish Parade, which is always held the Sunday prior to Saint Patrick's Day, unless the holiday falls on a Sunday in which case the parade is held that day.

The South Side has two of Chicago's largest public parks. Jackson Park, which hosted the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, is currently the site of the Museum of Science and Industry. The park stretches along the lakefront, linking the neighborhoods of Hyde Park and South Shore. Washington Park, which is connected to Jackson Park by the Midway Plaisance, is currently being considered as the primary site of the Olympic Stadium for the 2016 Summer Olympics if Chicago wins the bid.

West Side

The West Side (extending west of downtown) is made up of neighborhoods such as Austin, Lawndale, Garfield Park, West Town, and Humboldt Park among others. Some neighborhoods, particularly Garfield Park and Lawndale, have socio-economic problems including urban decay and crime. Other West Side neighborhoods, especially those closer to downtown, have been experiencing a rise in property value.

Major parks on the West Side include Douglas Park, Garfield Park, and Humboldt Park. Garfield Park Conservatory houses one of the largest collections of tropical plants of any U.S. city. Cultural attractions on the West Side include Humboldt Park's Puerto Rican Day festival, and the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen.

Chicago has experienced a decline in overall crime since the 1990s. Murders in the city peaked first in 1974, with 970 murders when the city's population was over three million people (resulting in a murder rate of around 29 per 100,000), and again in 1992 with 943 murders, resulting in a murder rate of 34 per 100,000. After adopting crime-fighting techniques recommended by Los Angeles and New York City Police Departments in 2004, Chicago recorded 448 homicides, the lowest total since 1965 (15.65 per 100,000.) Chicago's homicide tally remained steady throughout 2005, 2006, and with 449, 452, and 435 respectively, and the overall crime rate in 2006 continued the downward trend that has taken place since the early 1990s.

Gangs

Black Disciples

The Black Disciples (often abbreviated as BDN or BDN III) are a large African American street gang based in Chicago, Illinois. The gang is considered extremely violent and is known to engage in drug trafficking and distribution, in addition to other criminal activities.The street gang is estimated to have 6,000+ gang members.  MORE INFORMATION NEEDED

Black P. Stones

The Almighty Black P. Stone Nation (often abbreviated BPSN or BPS) is a Chicago-based street gang estimated to have more than 23,000 gang members. The gang was originally formed in the late 1950s as the Blackstone Rangers. In later years, a quasi-Islamic faction of the gang emerged, naming themselves the El Rukn tribe of the Moorish Science Temple in America (or simply El Rukns), under their 'religious leader' and Blackstone Rangers founder Abdullah-Malik (born Jeff Fort)[citation needed]. The BPSN has managed to finance itself through a wide array of criminal activities and are also part of the large Chicago-based gang alliance known as the People Nation.  MORE INFORMATION NEEDED

4 Corner Hustlers  MORE INFORMATION NEEDED

Gangster Disciples  MORE INFORMATION NEEDED

Gangster Two-Six

The Gangster Two Six Nation, also known as GTS, G26, IIGVI and TSN, ." The Two-Six originated approximately 40 years ago in the Little Village community along 26th Street in Chicago. Since their formation the group has spread to other cities and counties in Illinois.[2] Their symbols include a playboy bunny with the right ear bent, though it has been drawn without the bent ear, three slashes with three dots, and two dice with two and six dots and a "T" shaped sword going through a "S" (known as a T-S sword).You can also include the symbol of Bugs Bunny, or the heart, the clover, and the diamond, as their main symbol. Their colors are Black and Beige (also tan, khaki, or light brown).

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Gaylords

The Chicago Gaylords, also known as the Almighty Gaylords, is the oldest White Chicago street gang. It originated in the neighborhood of Grand and Noble. The original president of the Gaylords selected the name after reading about the Gaylords of France in the public library. The Chicago Gaylords started out as one of the clubs that were started by veterans post-World War II. Many of these social clubs had their own clubhouses and baseball teams. The Gaylord's clubhouse was on the corner of Ohio and Noble Street. The Chicago Gaylords would eventually leave the Ohio and Noble area as the neighborhood's population became more Latino.

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Imperial Gangsters

The Almighty Imperial Gangster Nation street gang is a very violent Latino gang based in Chicago, Illinois they were believed to have been started in the North Side of Chicago on W Palmer Blvd and N Kedzie Avenue in the Palmer Square Park area. Their colors consist of Black and Pink. Symbols include Shotguns, an Imperial Gangster Crown, Pink Panther. They are well known in violent crimes such as car jacking, car "ramming", robberies, money laundering, and are considered to be armed and dangerous.

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Insane Popes (North Side)

The "Popes" (also known as "The Insane Popes") are a Chicago, Illinois street gang, thought to have formed in the late 1960s or early 1970s on the north side of Chicago. They may have emerged from an unnamed "Greaser" gang in the late 1950s on Chicago and Wood Streets. By the mid 1970s the Popes main membership consisted of Greeks from the Albany Park/Lincoln Square neighborhood, and at their peak in the mid-1960s to early 1970s, they may have had 300-500 members. The southside Popes were also started by north Pope leader Larkin but became a separate and independent gang. The gang territory and workings are very different from northside to southside. And the distance from the north and south are very far. In a way they are different worlds. They were the third largest Caucasian street gang in Chicago, after the Gaylords (peak membership in the late 1970s 2000-3000) and Simon City Royals (peak membership in the early 1980s 1,500-2000).

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Insane Popes (South Side)  MORE INFORMATION NEEDED

Latin Counts

The "Latin Counts" street gang originated in Chicago took its name from a popular doo-wop group in Southwest Detroit during late 50's/ 60's. Sometime during the 70's young hispanic's began to use the moniker for more sinister purposes.

The street gang spread throughout the midwest probably as a result of the decline of Detroit's economy. Members can be found from Chicago to Pittsburgh and even in Denver and St.Louis, and is affiliated with the "Peoples" nation.Members are known to brandish black & red colors and hats are worn tilted to the left.Symbols include a knights helmit and a five point star. In any event, the gang has occupied the streets of Pilsen for around five decades and has a well known reputation in the south side ofChicago and many Chicago suburbs as well. In Pilsen, the Counts were founded by a group of individuals who aligned to protect themselves against the neighborhood clubs already in existence. Currently, in the crowded gang landscape of Pilsen, the Counts are surrounded by many gangs, including the Satan Disciples, La Raza, Party People, Ambrose, and Bishops. The gang has experienced several changes of leadership over the years, but have continued to grow. The LC's have quite a strong presence in the South Chicago and Southwest Detroit community, as well as numerous Chicago suburbs including Cicero, Addison, West Chicago, Warrenville, Naperville and Chicago Heights. Metro Detroit also has a number of LC clicks, concentrated most heavily in the northwest suburb of Pontiac. In South Chicago, the gang has had an ongoing feud with the Latin Kings, Spanish Gangster Disciples, Ambrose, and Latin Dragons. In addition, they've battled with former Pilsen allies, the La Raza, Ambrose and Satan Disciples. In the Chicago suburbs, especially Cicero, the Latin Counts have waged a war against the small though well orgainzed street gang, The Sin City Boys. They've recently formed a relationship with the Gangster Disciples in the prison systems, due to a dispute with the Lords on the streets. In the inner city neighborhoods of Denver the Latin Counts have operations going on in East Denver and areas of West Denver. It has been stated by former members that in Denver there primary area of operation is some places located on West Colfax Avenue. The Latin Counts are known to have a strong influence in Southwest Detroit, Michigan where they have several areas of operations. The Counts primary criminal involvement has consisted of graffiti, drug trafficking, assault, arson, armed robbery, kidnapping, shootings, and murder.

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Latin Eagles  MORE INFORMATION NEEDED

Latin Kings  MORE INFORMATION NEEDED

Maniac Latin Disciples

The Maniac Latin Disciples are Chicago's second largest Latino street gang.[citation needed] They are one of the top gangs operating in Chicago's northern suburbs, according to the FBI and ATF. In sworn testimony before the United States Congress' Judicary Committee in 2005, Patrick Fitzgerald, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, stated that the Maniac Latin Disciples are a "super gang", along with the Gangster Disciples, the Black Disciples, the Vice Lords, the Black P Stones, the Gangster Two Six, the Latin Kings,the Spanish Cobras, and the Satan Disciples.

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Mickey Cobras

Under the leadership of Mickey Cogwell, the Mickey Cobras began as the "Cobra Stones" and were an official branch of the Black P. Stones Nation (BPSN) from 1961 until 1977. Cogwell was a founding member of the "Main 21" and was therefore a leader within the BPSN. He was later convicted in 1972 for defrauding the federal government grant of $927,000 from the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity. After a falling out, the leader of the BPSN, Jeff Fort had Mickey Cogwell killed on February 25, 1977. At this point the gang became a separate entity that is today known as the Mickey Cobras gang. At the time of his death Cogwell had been working as an organizer for a southside union. In 1970 the commander of the Gang Intelligence Unit for the Chicago Police Department portrayed Cogwell as the link between gangs and organized crime, particularly the Chicago Outfit. The Mickey Cobras exist in areas of the southside that compete for membership with the BPSN, particularly in the area around Fuller Park.[2] They also controlled a segment of the Robert Taylor Homes housing project called "The Hole" until the buildings were demolished and the Cobra drug lines forced out into the street. Despite similar origins and affiliations, no one could say that just because both the BPSN and the Mickey Cobras today are affiliated with the People Nation that they are in any sense cooperative or friendly towards each other. They also have a small presence in Detroit, Michigan.

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Simon City Royals  MORE INFORMATION NEEDED

12th Street Players  MORE INFORMATION NEEDED

Vice Lords

The Almighty Vice Lord Nation (abbreviated AVLN, VLN or ASVLN) is the oldest and second-largest street gang in Chicago. They are believed to have been originally formed sometime in 1958, as a youth gang in the Illinois State Training School for Boys in St. Charles, also known as the St. Charles Juvenile Correctional Facility. Many of the youths came from the impoverished 16th Street Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago. The Vice Lords have spread their power and influence throughout the south and midwestern states. Recent police reports indicate an increasing presence in the northeast as well. Their demise was largely due to Cointelpro type operations carried out by the Chicago Police Department. Though the gang's official colors are black and gold, members wear all colors, and they are part of a larger, Chicago-based gang coalition known as the People Nation. The Vice Lords also have a large presence in cities such as Detroit, Indianapolis, South Bend, Milwaukee,Terre Haute,Kalamazoo and Minneapolis. There's an estimate of 30,000+ members in the gang.[citation needed]. Vice Lords were at one point mainly African-Americans, but the gang is gaining a large number of Hispanic and Caucasian members. Vice Lords are a part of the People Nation which is a group of about 20-50 different gangs with one of them being the Latin Kings. Their rivals are Folk Nation.

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