Gang Task Force

In 1989, the Rapid City Police Department and Pennington County Sheriff's Office formed the Rapid City Area Gang Task Force (GTF). The GTF was created to address issues surrounding the emerging gang problem in the greater Rapid City area. The GTF is comprised of members from the Police Department and Sheriff's Office, and includes all Rapid City school liaisons.

The GTF takes a three-prong approach to dealing with gang issues in the community, starting with intelligence gathering to identify active and at-risk gang members, their associates, and their rivals. Second, the GTF focuses on enforcement, using directed patrol efforts and the Targeted Apprehension Project. Periodically, GTF officers are assigned to work in a special uniform or in unmarked cars to interdict gang activity, collect intelligence and respond to gang-based incidents. Finally, members use education to help parents, teachers, and the community better understand the gang mentality and manifestations of this behavior.

Graffiti Eradication Project

Over the years, the GTF has identified several hundred Rapid City area citizens who are involved in street gang activity. The majority of the people involved are young, predominantly from 12-19 years of age. Still, there are those who become involved in the gang subculture at a younger age, and those who stay involved well into their adult years.

A classification system was developed to more effectively track gang involvement in the Rapid City area, using SDCL 22-10-14, which outlines the criteria defining a street gang member. The GTF maintains a database with the names and gang affiliation of all individuals who are known to have gang connections within the community. This information is shared with other law enforcement agencies on a 'right to know, need to know' basis. The database is highly protected, and is only used for criminal investigations and prosecution purposes.

A number of programs have been developed to assist in dealing with gang-based issues in the Rapid City community, including the Graffiti Eradication Project, which utilizes community volunteers to eradicate graffiti, using donated paint and supplies. This has been a successful program, and hundreds of graffiti-damaged sites have been restored to their original condition since the project began in 1995.

The Tattoo Removal Unified Support Team (TRUST) is a collaborative effort between the GTF and SAVE Rapid City (Stand Against a Violent Environment), initiated in 1998. The program utilizes medical professionals who donate their time, talent, and equipment to remove gang tattoos, burns, and brands from young people who have demonstrated a sincere desire to turn away from gang activity.

Since beginning the GTF, we have seen a reduction in graffiti-based destruction of property, in new individuals becoming involved with gang activity, and in the number of violent crimes committed by gang-involved individuals. For more information on the Rapid City Area Gang Task Force, contact Lt. Dan Rud at 394-4133.

Rapid City Police Department
300 Kansas City St, Suite 200, Rapid City, SD 57701-2890
Non-Emergency: 605-394-4131   Emergency: 911