The Puyallup Tribe of Washington has revived its gang task force in response to a rise in gang-related activity on the reservation.

The tribe created the task force in 2004 but it fizzled out in 2008, Tacoma Weekly reported. Two gang-related shootings earlier this month prompted tribal leaders to reconvene and address the problem.

"We’ve already got good cop suppression going on, but (activity is) kind of heating up on the East Side," David Whited, a grant writer for the tribe, told the paper. "We need a more concerted effort of prevention and intervention. We need to offer families that are at risk more support services before kids and their parents go separate ways – before they pick another family to identify with, and wear their colors."

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding a hearing this afternoon to discuss gang activity in Indian Country.

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Tribe revives gang task force (Tacoma Weekly 7/30)

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