Watching the Gangstas
Several years ago, when I riding in a car in Chicago, the friend who was driving told me to take off the baseball cap I was wearing. I asked him why, and he said I didn’t want to take chances in the gang-infested neighborhood we were passing through. When I made a joke about it, he emphasized that he was serious. Since he knows that city like the back of his hand, I complied.
I found that experience pretty sobering. I never thought I’d have to worry about it in Milton.
Over the years, my wife and I have gotten to know most of Milton pretty well because we are in the habit of taking long walks. It’s a great opportunity for us to get some exercise while we catch up on the day’s events without distraction or interruption.
As we were taking one of our regular walks through town, a beat-up pickup with a couple of rough-looking young men drove by. The kid closest to us in the passenger seat yelled some smart-aleck remark to us as they drove by. For no good reason, I responded by striking a rapper pose.
I expected them to laugh at the goofy old guy trying to act like Eminem. But the response I got was much different.
The passenger’s head did one of those comic double-takes you see on sitcoms. He got animated and I could hear him exclaim, “What the h---?!!”
Then the driver stuck his arm out the window and made a sign. And I don’t mean the typical one-fingered salute. It was then that I realized what happened.
I had inadvertently flashed them a gang sign. (I realized this because I had recently attended a presentation about gang activity in Janesville.) The truck stopped at the end of the block ahead of us, and stayed there motionless for what seemed like an eternity.
We slowed our pace as my wife said to me, “I don’t like this.” I didn’t either, but didn’t verbalize why I was genuinely scared.
Finally, the truck left, apparently deciding that a middle-aged dork in a Hawaiian shirt, out for a walk with his wife, was not a member of the Latin Kings.
But the experience was just one more reason that I’m glad the Milton Police Department has launched the Neighborhood Watch program in the city.
After a few incidents – including the shocking news about three middle school students overdosing on heroin – Neighborhood Watch in Milton quickly evolved from idea into reality. When the members of our neighborhood attended the first meeting a couple of months ago, I was amazed how many people living within a block of me were folks that I did not know, by name or face. It felt a little shameful, only getting to know your neighbors because of concerns about crime. It reminded me of the feeling one gets when you only see your relatives at funerals.
It didn’t take long for the Neighborhood Watch group to see why citizen diligence is needed. During Independence Day weekend, a neighbor’s home was burglarized. The police informed our block captain, who immediately sent out an e-mail to the watch group asking if any of us had seen anything suspicious.
Later that day, while walking in the woods near my house, I found a smashed laptop computer. It turned out to be our neighbor’s missing unit. The police are continuing to investigate the case.
Our group had a picnic this week, and we are planning on meeting regularly. Fortunately, since the burglary, there have been no major issues in the neighborhood. But we have all been awakened to the fact that even in small towns like ours, crime happens and citizens need to be attentive and unafraid to report suspicious activity. As one neighbor said during the picnic, this is our only way to fight back.
Several years ago, in the days before cell phones, our teenage babysitter accidentally locked herself out of our house while our kids were asleep inside. After many attempts to find an open door or get the attention of our dozing children, she finally succeeded in waking our daughter, who let her back in. Not long afterward, the police – responding to a call about suspicious activity - showed up at the door to make sure everything was all right and check on the kids. As badly as I felt for the poor babysitter – who had to tell us what happened - I felt extremely grateful that someone was watching out for our safety.
If you have information about a crime in Milton - or anywhere in North Rock County- but are nervous about reporting it, another option is to anonymously contact Janesville Area CrimeStoppers, which may even result in a reward.
Aug 26, 2009 at 1:03 p.m.
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Interesting story Jim and sad to see this type of behavior in Milton. Also, thanks for the color picture showing a gang sign, but I am wondering who does your nails - they look spiffy. :-)
Aug 22, 2009 at 11:24 p.m.
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whonellie: Close but no cigar. The photo here shows the sign for the Latin Kings gang. Turn the sign so that the thumb points upward and you have the sign language pose for "I love you."
Aug 22, 2009 at 8:01 p.m.
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Isn't that the sign for "I love you" in sign language??
Aug 20, 2009 at 3:56 p.m.
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Maybe we can include Milwaukee & Chicago to the line of drugs & gangs,when doyle gets his way with the rail line!!
Aug 20, 2009 at 3:53 p.m.
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J.D.Huskers! The Bad Landers ( nothing to do with Illinoisssss!)
Aug 20, 2009 at 3:49 p.m.
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Unfortunately Rock County is the gateway from Rockford to Madison for the "unsavory" kind. It has been for the past 30-40 years thanks to I-90. Many choose to ignore that fact. We have to pull our head out of the sand and stop it now before it gets even worse. And it will get worse with the economy.
Aug 20, 2009 at 3:33 p.m.
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What kind of tractors are the gang's driving?
Aug 20, 2009 at 2:53 p.m.
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No - You win the award for the best, funniest comment!!
But you should see me in a Hawaiian shirt.
Aug 20, 2009 at 2:05 p.m.
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Well, sir, you are wearing red and standing in front of a red rock. Clearly, you are not a crip.
Aug 20, 2009 at 11:18 a.m.
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I graduated in 1991. I remember even then, if some idiot group of young people got out of line and did some of the things that you see and hear about now, well, a couple of big guys from the football team would take care of it, or these people would get shunned right out of school. Only typical class clowns and drop-out types were 'accepted' as usual-suspects. My point? Everyone seems to allow this stupid behavior now days. These idiots in question, are all known by other people, who are aware of them and their antics. But no one will call them out? Friends, parents, neighbors etc. I say it's time to become un-desensitized again. I don't believe in truly criminal behavior, or villigant attitude which goes too far, but enough is enough. We live in 'hicksville-USA' here and it's just stupid that this is going on. Where's the outcry? Many years ago, that truck (you spoke about on your 'walk'), would have been chased down by about 5 vehicles from the neighborhood, and they would have been followed right to their parent's front door.
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I'm not just a blow-heart. When I see something out of line in my presence, I do or say something about it. If it is too threatening, then I call the police. No more tolerance...doesn't mean ruining our way of life or going overboard.
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I'm glad you wrote this article. It's part of the tolerance change, and it is sad we all have to deal with this nonsense.
Aug 20, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
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nothing more funny then wanna be gangsters in town. i grew up in milton. nothing but a bunch of white people trying to act all hard. its a discrace to the people of milton to have mostly middle school and high schoolers acting this way. i fing myself laughing at them when i see some skinny pale white kid trying to walk and hold his pants up at the same time. they are all JOKES.
Aug 20, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.
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You had on the white T shirt. He was hoping that meant you were selling drugs. You weren't by any chance standing near a corner, were you?
Aug 20, 2009 at 10:04 a.m.
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I was grimly amused a couple months back when putting out my garbage (in Janesville's Fourth Ward). A guy pulled up to the stop sign and started flashing gang signs at me. I should emphasize that I am white and I was casually dressed, jeans and a white t-shirt. This guy was white, scruffy-looking, driving a beater, and seemed to really think my outfit suggested gang membership -- or that standing out in front of my house on trash day was the same as advertising my amateur pharmacy business. I gave him the stoniest stare and he hit the gas.
Aug 20, 2009 at 9:46 a.m.
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I need to buy an island...I would love to move out of Janesville as it has simply deteriorated so much: speeding, loud vehicles, crime, violence, disrespect, traffic, etc. I had thought actually of moving to a place like Milton - but even jerks in pick-ups have found their way into that beautiful community. I'd move to the country but all I have to do is read about the people at the T-stop by bypass 11 or look at how the bypass cuts right next to the beautiful log home (that used to be somewhat away from city/traffic) to realize there is really no place where one can have access to amenities of a town without having the negatives of community living drag you down...I also feel for the people in the the townships where there is a proposal to re-route hwy 12 through their quiet little community. People move there to get away from the noise and traffic, and then the city/state/etc blow it. Again, I need an island, but wait, can't afford one and doubt there's any left for sale! :)
Aug 19, 2009 at 10:47 p.m.
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James.....you'll never go wrong giving them the "1 finger salute". It's universally known, even in Mister Rogers neighborhood and gets right to the point.
As for the cap "dress code"....wear an farm hat (IH, CAT, Pioneer, ect) The gangsta's don't understand what those mean!!!
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