Saturday, November 22, 2008

Belen Schools, police taking proactive stance on gangs

Brent Ruffner News-Bulletin Staff Writer; bruffner@news-bulletin.com

Belen Belen Police and school officials have identified several gang members at Belen High School and are stressing a zero tolerance policy in efforts to keep a tight lid on the city's gang problems.

Officials said they are strictly regulating dress code as well as monitoring any possible gang activity on its campus to insure the safety of Belen's students.

"It will be a problem if we don't take care of this now," said Kiki Valdez, student resource officer at Belen High School.

Valdez said he is informing teachers and staff members of what to watch out for inside and out of the classroom. He has identified 10 to 12 students that he said are affiliated with local gangs.

Valdez said the latest trend is students that wear items connected to the Insane Clown Posse. It is a hardcore hip-hop group that is known for dark, violent lyrics and elaborate live performances.

In January, police arrested three juveniles wearing attire similar to followers of the group on charges of negligent use of a deadly weapon. They allegedly fired a gun three times in an open field in Rio Communities.

Valdez said the proactive approach at the school will limit the city's criminal activity.

"I want teachers to be aware of what kids are doing," Valdez said. "Gang activity is very low right now. But it'd be a big problem if they start getting organized."

Belen High School Principal Tamie Pargas and Belen Student Resource Officer recently addressed the Belen Board of Education to keep them abreast of the latest training for the school.

Valdez attended a weeklong student resource officer course in Tulsa, Okla., in September meant to help define his job description.

"We're trying to increase awareness to parents and students about what gang activity looks like," Pargas said. "I don't think we have a problem, but we have our concerns with attire that kids are wearing."

Belen Consolidated Schools Superintendent Patricia Rael said school officials identified kids wearing gang-related attire during a recent homecoming dance.

"They were stopped immediately," Rael said. "(Officials) are up on gang-related activity. Anything we see, we take care of right away."

Belen Middle School Principal Buddy Dillow echoes that mentality.

Dillow said any students wearing improper clothing will be sent home immediately.

"It's foolish to say gangs aren't here," Dillow said. "But we don't put up with it at all. It's zero tolerance, and we mean it."

Dillow said the school uses alternative programs to keep kids motivated and out of trouble. The school has an alternative suspension program that uses a different method of discipline. Teachers remind students of certain rules and behaviors depending on the offense.

" We have a committed, hard-working staff," Dillow said. "They are a group of positive thinkers that put kids first."

Valdez said he has slowly gained the trust of students and has cleared up any misconceptions of students.

"I was an outsider my first day," Valdez said. "Now, kids come up and talk to me."

But Valdez added, students have the inside track of what's really going on at the school.

"I really enjoy it," Valdez said. "It's really important to keep a bond with these kids."

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