Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- As Utahns go to bed each night, a team of police officers is just starting their workday. KSL photojournalist Shawn Emery spent a night with the Metro Gang Unit.
Officer Ski Afatasi has been with the Unified Police Department for 10 years and has worked with gangs his whole career.
It's not illegal to be a gang member. It's just the stuff that they do that makes it illegal.
–Ski Afatasi
"I think a lot of people would be surprised at what goes on after dark here," he said. "The gang unit's job is to keep people safe while they're asleep."
"Gang members are doing everything. You name it. They're into selling drugs, stealing cars, breaking into cars, graffiti, profanity, vandalism. Anything they can do to promote their gangs, they're going to do it," he said.
"It's always nice when you can take bad people off the street," he added.
The project also provides youth with information on viable alternatives to gang membership and educates the public about the destructiveness of the gang lifestyle.
"That's why we do what we do on a day-to-day basis and try to keep the community safe from people who are out there doing bad."
"The thing with gang members in the gang world is that you have to talk to them respectfully. That's a big thing in the gang world. You've got to give them respect."
Play the video to see the entire report.
