EDMONDS, Washington (STPNS) -- Raul figured gangs weren’t much of a concern in Lynnwood, until he went to the Gang Awareness & Education community forum held at Meadowdale High School last week.  

“We always think gangs happen in California, New York and Florida like in the movies – not here,” Raul said.  “I was shocked to hear how many gangs are in this area.”

About 130 parents and students from the Edmonds School District went to the Gang Awareness & Education community forum on Dec. 8 to learn about the gang issue in Snohomish County.



The forum was sponsored by the Edmonds School District, Edmonds Community College and the city of Lynnwood.

Sgt. T.J. Brooks of the Lynnwood Police Department, who has specialized in gangs for the past 19 years, spoke at the forum about how to recognize and prevent gang involvement.

In 19 years, Brooks has arrested teens from several street gangs prominent in the Lynnwood area, including Crips, Sureño 13 (SUR 13), Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Florencia 13 and Norteños 13 or 14.

“If you come to Snohomish County, you’re going to see more Hispanic gang members than you are Black or Asian,” Brooks said.

Raul's son, an eighth-grader at College Place Middle School in Lynnwood, was recently approached by a few students in a Hispanic gang.

“He told us that a couple of kids told him how they act like they’re family and they protect one another [in the gang],” Raul said.  “They were trying to recruit him because he has a Latino last name.”

His son no longer feels safe at school, so Raul and his wife are pulling him out of College Place and homeschooling him for the rest of eighth grade.

But Raul is worried that other students at College Place will be asked to join the gang.

At the forum, Brooks listed off some of the warning signs that a teen is considering joining a gang or was newly recruited into a gang.  The warning signs are as follows:

Drastic changes in dress style -  

Gang members dress to identify with their gang, Brooks said.  He watches for teens wearing the colors blue, brown or red or the number 13 on shirts, bandanas, jewelry, hats and shoes.  

Little or no association with long-time friends -  

If a teen suddenly withdraws from their old friends and forms bonds with an entirely new group of friends, then something is going on, Brooks said.

Unusual desire for secrecy -  

When parents start asking their teen questions like ‘Who are these new friends?’ and ‘Where have you been?’ and don’t get any straightforward answers, that’s a problem, Brooks said.

“‘We’re just running around’ or ‘We’re out at such-and-such park’ doesn’t tell you anything,” he said.  “As parents, we should know.”

Indication of drug or alcohol use -

The most common drugs Brooks sees being used by gangs in the Lynnwood area are Ecstasy, Oxycoton and marijuana.

Possession or sudden interest in guns or knives -

“Maybe they start putting pictures of guns on their walls,” Brooks said.  “It’s just a little more interest in guns [or knives] than you would like.”

A new fear or dislike for the police -

Gangs feed their negative opinions about law enforcement and other authority figures to their recruits, Brooks said.

Loss of interest in school and sports -

“Declining grades – that’s probably going to be the first indicator that any of your children get that there’s trouble,” Brooks said. “That’s exactly where it’s going to start.”

Graffiti on schoolbooks, notebooks and bedroom walls -

If there’s an association with gangs, parents are going to see their teens practicing on notebooks or backpacks in pen or marker, Brooks said.  Ultimately, that graffiti will end up on the streets.

More frequent injuries or cuts and bruises -

If a teen starts coming home with unexplainable black eyes or scrapes on their knuckles, they may be fighting in a gang, Brooks said.

Unusual confrontational behavior -

They’re going to be talking back and cussing a lot, Brooks said.

“When they start dropping the F-Bomb … or they start saying they’ll run away, you should pay attention,” he said.

For more help with gang-related issues or to report gang activity and graffiti, call the Snohomish County Gang Help Line at 425-388-6666.