Gangs are becoming more prevalent in the Lehigh Valley, local elected officials were told during a Mid-Eastern Counties Association of Boroughs meeting held Feb. 26 at the Northampton Borough Council chambers.

Bath, Northampton, Coplay, Coopersburg and Wilson boroughs were represented at the meeting.

Bethlehem City Police Department Sgt. Simon Boddie in a PowerPoint presentation provided council members and mayors with a sordid tale of gang activity in the valley along with tips to help identify persons affiliated with gangs.

Boddie spoke of a Bethlehem operation called "Operation Sunset," which resulted in the arrest of 33 Latin King members.

"We closed out the Latin Kings," Boddie said. He said the operation involved a coalition of local, state and federal law enforcement personnel.

"Three have been gang members who have gone through the borough," Northampton Borough Police Chief Ron Morey said after the meeting.

Morey further explained the gang members with affiliations to the Bloods and Crips resided for a short period of time in the borough.

"There are no gang members in the borough now," Morey said.

Boddie and Morey said there had been signs of "tagging," or gang members who sprayed their grafetti on commercial property in the uptown area. The markings are used to designate gang turf or a hidden message.

One attendee inquired why sneakers are hung on utility wires. Boddie explained the practice of hanging sneakers on wires could indicate drug sales on the side of the street where the sneakers are. Additionally, Boddie said if a boot is hung on the wire, it could mean drugs may be sold inside a home, on the street. Boddie, however, said the practice could also be the work of an impostor.

"Kids want acceptance, safety and status," Boddie said of younger person joining gangs.

Other signs of gang affiliation, Boddie said, include the combination of colors, tipping of the baseball cap to the right or left or a handkerchief hanging partially out from a pants pocket. Various finger and hand gestures, glorified in movies and music, could be signs of gang affiliation as well, Boddie said.

Boddie added it is important to reach children young in order to steer them in the right direction. The D.A.R.E. program for fifth through seventh graders coordinated by borough police is an example of positively mentoring children.

Boddie also said retaining a school resource officer is vital in building trust and a bond with the child. Parents should be alert if their son or daughter changes their lifestyle, begins using hand signs, listens to different music, begins associating with new friends foreign to the parents and if they have on their possession unusual amounts of money.

Also during the meeting, Coplay Councilman Charlie Sodl questioned the wisdom of Colorado legalizing recreational marijuana, saying it will adversey impact society.

Boddie agreed with Sodl, arguing the media is at fault on the issue of pushing to legalize marijuana.