Rogue Gangs - Nortenos and Surenos

A couple of major Hispanic gangs emerged in Southern Oregon about 15 years ago. Now police say, they're really starting to affect local neighborhoods and schools.

Police say the two primary gangs here in Southern Oregon, are the Nortenos and Surenos and police say they're mostly fighting each other, but now their activities are becoming increasingly violent.

In January, a two-hour standoff with police started with a gang fight in West Medford, and police are becoming increasingly concerned about it.

To Dana Turner, scars from gang tattoos force her to remember a past she can't seem to forget. She got her firsts tattoos when she was just eight years old.

"I come from Southern California, the Ventura Avenue Westside Loquitas, that's the clique I am from," said Turner.

It was part of the Surenos gang and for 17 years she took part in a lifestyle she no longer believes in.

"One way is to be born into, another is jumped it, I was born into it, I was born in Southern California and grew up in the streets," Turner said. "The gang was my family."

She says drive-bys, drug dealing, robberies and weapons, were things she was exposed to at an early age. In 1999 Turner moved her children to Southern Oregon, where she could raise her children away from it all.

She says her gang ties were cut and her tattoos were removed. Even though she is ashamed of her past, she says her tattoos serve as a reminder of who she once was. Since she has lived in Southern Oregon, Turner says she's seeing it all over in Medford, which is now a melting pot of gangs.

"I think its going to get worse, its getting worse if we don't figure how to get to the root it's a huge problem," Turner said.

Police know it's here too.

"We're trying to get ahead of the ball before it becomes big problem here," said Sgt. Phil Eastman, who heads the Medford Police Department's Gang and Street Drugs Unit.

Eastman says the problem isn't just in Medford, gang activity has been reported throughout the region.

Police say they're mostly Nortenos and Surenos, primarily Hispanic prison gangs. And here, police estimate there are about 50 of them, maybe even 100.

"Surenos started as prison gang. Surenos are the people who came from Southern California gangs. Nortenos for northeners people who went to prison from Northern California," Eastman said.

Police say they've been moving into Southern Oregon. They are making their presence known, with graffiti that decorates walls and fences throughout Medford along with playground equipment.

"Surenos southerners, or sur often times, numbers are 13 you'll see "1" and "3" sometimes graffiti with three dots those are all indicators of Surenos activity," Eastman said.

The Nortenos numbers are 14 or 4, you see that on graffiti. The Nortenos usually use the color red.

Police say they know something has to be done.

"We have to put a stop to gang violence before it gets out of hand," Eastman said.

Before it's too late.

"Gang activity will consume the city pretty much if people continue to look the other way or put the blame in the wrong place its going to continue we're not looking at the right thing," Turner said.

Tuesday on News 10 at 6 find out how gangs are changing local neighborhoods and how police are trying to change to keep up with them.

Have you seen an increase in gang activity where you live? What should be done about it? Is increasing the Police presence the only answer? Does there need to be a community response? What will it take to solve this problem? Discuss this issue in our Forums!