The OLPD does an excellent job of keeping on top of this critical issue. As parents move their kids out of gang infested areas and into our safer neighborhoods, some kids, already involved, start recruiting here. I've found that the OLPD is proactive, responds positively to community concerns, and always acts immediately to stifle any activity. I appreciated the reference to the gang colors and the drawing with this article; I hope that parents and the community keep a vigilant eye out -- the police can't do it alone.

Thank you for this article, Lorraine - gang activity in our village is very disturbing.

Terri, there has been an increasing gang presence in Bridgeview, Burbank, Summit and Argo - that I know of. There has been active recruitment for quite a while; I remember it was an issue when the old Family Fest was held at Centennial a few years back. You're right, this PD has been vigilant about gang activity. And I second Jim's kudo to Lorraine and Patch. Parents in this area need to know that gangs are here, some of members live in this town, and they are seeking recruits. Keep tabs on your kids, encourage them to be safe and make the right choices. Parental involvement is key in keeping the kids focused on the right choices.

I have seen (over the years) a change in the media to inform the public of specific gangs and their colors and tags.

This reflects a change in philosphy of publicizing the gangs to the need to inform the public. This tells me that gangs are indeed on the upswing as stated by others readers. I believe them.

OLPD is very proactive in keeping tabs on their activity and it is important that we the public be made aware of specific gang presence and their enemies, colors etc.

Armed with this kind of knowledge any resident will have the ability to ID possible trouble in parks, bars, parking garage, etc. AND REPORT IT to police for them to follow up.

We still are in a position to keep a lid on this activity....if we choose to. If we choose not to.... We will all have no choice but to sell our homes (in a down market) to flee the town that we all remember from a quieter time.

Yes the inner city is coming to town; it is the price we pay for being the next door neighbor to the 3rd largest city in the USA. It does not mean we need to condone what is going on in our own back yard. The police will stay on top of this, as long as we the people refuse to let them congragate in public. We can prevent this from getting out of hand.

Thanks Lorraine for this article. I think knowing the Satan's Disciples colors will help to identify any members of that gang in our parks and elsewhere. I think pictures of the colors of other gangs would be helpful too. The OLPD really is great. But they need our eyes to let them know if we see anybody suspicious. A while ago there was the story of a gang member with drugs standing on a street corner in a residential area of OL with some younger girls. The OLPD nailed him. Turns out he lives in OL and had drugs on him. Also remember that there are girls who join these gangs and they can be just as much a problem. I really think if we all make life difficult for the gang bangers that we can minimize their presence in OL. And again it's good to know the OLPD is being aggressive.

If the arrests were for no more than assembling, the police overstepped their authority. The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of assembly.

Which side are you on, Richard? The letter of the law (reference please) or the ability to plan mayhem in the peace and quiet of a local OL park? For most Americans that would be no contest.

Richard has a very valid point. We don't know all of the facts. The Oak Lawn Police are pretty informed on the law. They have far more facts than we have.

I presume the police are also monitoring activities at Shubert Park. I've noticed on different occasions after 10:00 pm there are many older students at the park. On several occasions the day after there were numerous cigarette buts and empty beer cans. While this may not be gang-related, it is disgraceful, especially after the park had been refurbished.

I wish there were more police at the parks in general. I feel like I cannot take my young child there without running into older teenagers with foul mouths who are smoking, fighting or both.

Bad people have cars too.! They can go to any area from Oak Lawn to Oak Brook. All we need to do is to watch and report to the police. The Oak Lawn police will do the rest !

It's too bad the lodge over on 52nd ave and many others around the country are their creators. YouTube my research titled "Gangs and their controllers"enjoy and be enlightened

That is tooooo funny. These kids are a joke. I've been knowing one of them since the 7th grade. The other one got super sensitive like a baby one day when I told him he was wearing the wrong colors to be a part of the satan disciples that he wishes he was in. These kids are just white trash with no purpose or direction in life... Oak Lawn is safe for now. =)

Please rephrase my comment. I did not realize how derrogatory it was.

That is tooooo funny. These kids are a joke. I've been knowing one of them since the 7th grade. The other one got super sensitive like a baby one day when I told him he was wearing the wrong colors to be a part of the satan disciples that he wishes he was in. These kids are just nobody going nowhere and trying to be bad... Real gangs do not recognize them as members and they have no back up coming from anywhere Oak Lawn is safe for now. =)