Officials discuss gang presence in Coweta – The Newnan Times-Herald

What is a gang?

In the Georgia Code of Law, 16-15-3, a street gang is defined as “any organization, association, or group of three or more persons associated in fact, whether formal or informal, which engages in a pattern of criminal gang activity.”

The statute continues to define what exactly a “pattern of criminal gang activity” is, but two phrases stand out – “formal or informal” and “criminal.” By definition, any group, even a group like the Freemasons, could be considered a gang. The question is, is the group involved in criminal activity?

On Friday, law enforcement leaders with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office and Newnan Police Department met with reporters with The Newnan Times-Herald to discuss recent shootings and whether or not the violence means there are gangs in the county.

In short – yes. Just like everywhere else, there are gangs in Coweta County.

“It’s all here, it’s all everywhere,” said Captain John Lewis with the sheriff’s office. “I don’t know if there’s a town in America that doesn’t have some type of street gang.”

via Officials discuss gang presence in Coweta – The Newnan Times-Herald.