LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Las Vegas Metropolitan police are turning to a special juvenile task force to tackle youth gang violence before it turns deadly.
Officers say the unit launched in 2024 to identify and disrupt juvenile gang crime, but also to connect kids with help such as sports, jobs, tattoo removal and after-school programs.
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The focus is on home and school visits, building trust with families, and linking them to community resources.
LVMPD Officer Jasper Washington, who grew up on the east side of Las Vegas, says many families don’t even know resources exist, like rec centers or programs that can provide food, tutoring and summer camps.
“A lot of this is just a sense of belonging they’re searching for. they feel accepted in these groups,” Washington said. “When you see these kids going into gangs or being around certain groups that are doing criminal activity, it’s because they’re feeling like they belong. Our thing is, if we can start today, one kid at a time, we can change that one life at a time.”
He says the goal is a “whole community” approach, working with schools, faith groups and the city to give teens a safer path forward.
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