CALDWELL, Idaho — Caldwell Chief of Police Rex Ingram provides information about gang-related activity in the Caldwell community:
- Since the implementation of Operation Safe Streets started in 2022, Ingram says violent crime in Caldwell is down more than 13 percent.
- If you have any concerns about activity in your neighborhood feel free to call the police department at 208-455-3155 or message their instagram @caldwellpolicedepartment
- Chief Ingram said that some components considered gang-related include the location where someone was found, the crime committed and what is told to the police officers.
(Below is the transcript from the broadcast story)
How prevalent is gang activity in Caldwell?
One week after two teens were arrested for alleged gang activity, I talked with the Chief of Police about what the department is seeing.
"There are about 500 gang members in the city of Caldwell," said Chief Ingram.
According to Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram, not every crime is gang-related and the department considers various components to constitute something as gang-related.
“'Gang' by Idaho Law is three or more people that commit a crime...that wear common signs and symbols and that associate themselves with a certain group," said Chief Ingram.
Chief Ingram says there's been an influx of youth in gangs and that many of these gangs are being operated by kids leading kids.
"These kids are completely unorganized. These kids are completely lost in what they believe is a gang," said Chief Ingram.
Just last week, I reported on a shooting where a 14-year-old and 17-year-old were arrested for shooting into a home.
"Reason for a gang's existence," said Chief Ingram. "Is to create fear and intimidation within the community."
Chief Ingram tells me that shooting is one example of the types of crimes many of these street gangs will commit.
"The way that that makes them active is if they've been stopped by the police...they've admitted gang membership...they've been arrested for a gang crime..."
To combat this influx of gang activity, Caldwell police have resources meant to combat the problem.
Chief Ingram said, "We have Operation Safe Streets, which is our gang unit. We have the federal task force that we're a part of. We have the narcotics unit that we're part of. We have a Treasure Valley gang response unit for special events."
Since Operation Safe Streets started in 2022, Ingram says violent crime in Caldwell is down more than 13 percent.
Chief Ingram wants people to be comfortable with communicating with the police department if they have any concerns about activity in their neighborhood.
You can contact them by phone or through their social media. Or feel free to walk into the station.