Who: Carlos Ponce, director, Center for Criminology and Police Sciences, National Civil Police of El Salvador
What: Briefing on Central American gangs
When: 1 p.m. Monday, February 27, 2006
Where: Indianapolis Police Department Training Academy, Room 101, 902 N. Post Road, Indianapolis
Why: Central American gangs are believed to be operating in virtually every U.S. state, including Indiana. Carlos Ponce, an official with the National Civil Police of El Salvador, will give police from central Indiana an update on gang activity. Ponce holds a master's degree in criminology from Indiana State University and is currently involved in several research projects with ISU concerning gangs and homicides. Law enforcement and correctional officers from Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky attended a conference on Central American gangs Feb. 22 at ISU. A report on the conference is available online at www.indstate.edu/isu_today/archives/2006/feb/gangs.html
Contact: Lt. Jim Shepard, Indianapolis Police Department, (317) 945-6244, or Lisa Decker, associate professor, criminology, Indiana State University, (812) 237-2180 or crdecker@isugw.indstate.edu
Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Indiana State University, (812) 237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu