A gang detective was one of the three positions in the Special Investigations Unit. By 1992 there were a total of seven active gangs in Bellingham. A total of 230 gang members, including associates, were active in these gangs. Over the years the number of gangs have increased with membership in these gangs going up and down. The number of gang related assaults increased as well during the early 1990 s.
Assaults have a tendency to bring attention to the gang and to the members in the gang.
As a result, the number of gang related assaults reported to the police have declined since the late mid-late 90 s. The Bellingham Police Department, the Bellingham Schools, the business community, parents and concerned citizens have had some success in dealing with the locally based gangs, however the community can not relax. We will always be one step away from having a serious gang problem as long as drug money is around. We all must continue to focus the weight of the law on those individuals who want to live the gang life. Hopefully, with the close attention of all our citizens, the number of gangs and gang members will decline over the next ten years.