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Regional Gang Unit

Main Phone: (775) 328-3350

Lt. Tom Hebb

Gang-related issues remain a high concern to the citizens of Washoe County. The Regional Gang Unit handles youth gang issues which patrol beat deputies could not handle due to calls for service.

In 2001 Reno Police Department, Sparks Police Department, Washoe County School District, and the Washoe County Sheriff's Office completed an inter-local agreement which established a single multi-jurisdictional gang unit.  The multi-jurisdictional gang unit is not bound by jurisdiction limits. The officers from each agency have been deputized by the Sheriff to investigate cases anywhere in Washoe County. This ability minimizes the time lag, which is so critical in gang suppression cases.

Regional Gang Unit officers take a proactive approach in an effort to reduce the appeal of gang membership with students.  They volunteer to give talks at schools, both private and public, to education students on the dangers of gang activities.  In addition, they also assist other detective units in gang-related investigations, up to and including homicide.  They have been successful in solving several homicide cases.

The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) provides federal funds to the local multi-jurisdictional gang task force. These funds enhance local agencies' budgets toward efforts to suppress gang activity.