WEST VALLEY CITY — Blue balloons are securely fastened to the front porch.

The outside of the home is decorated in a way that it's obvious the family that lives there lost someone they dearly love.

And inside, Jenny Brotherson has decorated her son's room with large plaques and framed photographs that were given to the family in memory of their fallen hero.

25-year-old Cody Brotherson no longer lived there when his life was cut short, but for his mom, he'll always be with her.

It was November 6, 2016, when the West Valley City police officer was killed in the line of duty. Police had been in pursuit of a stolen vehicle and Brotherson was attempting to deploy tire spike strips to stop the car full of three juvenile gang members.

The car hit Brotherson at 78 miles per hour.

"They were documented gang members," Jenny Brotherson said. "They were 14, two of them were 15. One of them had joined a gang at 11."

In the months following her son's death, Jenny Brotherson lost count of the number of people who would tell her "they're just kids."

"They would think it was just these kids out joyriding," she explained.

As she sat through the trial of the three juveniles, Jenny Brotherson thought perhaps they'd mumble an apology. Nothing.

"They rolled their eyes," she said.

In June, the three were sentenced in connection with Officer Brotherson's death. Under Utah's justice system, juveniles get released by age 21.

Jenny Brotherson says it's time for adult consequences because gang violence at the hands of juvenile offenders has become more dangerous for officers and residents.

Three police departments, three nights

KSL investigators rode for three nights with three police departments in Salt Lake County to see what's happening to kids on the streets.

"Our last few homicides have all been juveniles shooting other juveniles," said Unified police Lt. Mike Schoenfeld, who heads up the Metro Gang Task Force.

Police have documented about 50 gangs in Salt Lake County and estimate there are about 1,300 juvenile gang members.

"It's not surprising to have a 15 or 17-year-old kid that's already been in the (gang) life years," Schoenfeld said.

In fact, Salt Lake Police detective Jason Gardiner said he's seen kids as young as 12 or 13 years of age join gangs, and they're committing more violent crimes as well.

"We average about a drive-by (shootings) a week," he said.

South Salt Lake Police Sgt. Brandon Singleton has also noticed that juvenile gang members have become even more violent than adults members.

"The juveniles tend to be more scary," he said.

They want to fit in, Singleton explained, so they're willing to commit just about any crime for any reason.

"It could be money, to could be fights over women, it could be drugs," he said.

Social media makes gang recruitment easier

It's easier than ever for to kids find gangs and for gangs to find kids.

Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter — all are being used by gangs to draw in wannabes, Schoenfeld said.

It's also turned the focus of gangs from protecting turf to seeking out new members no matter where they live.

Related:

'You are forever our protector': West Valley police officer remembered as hometown hero

Law enforcers from across Utah and the nation gathered at the Maverik Center on Monday to pay their final respects to one of their own.

"We have one group in particular that they're recruiting on social media," Schoenfeld said. "The gang members in that particular group are spread from Tooele to Provo to the Heber Valley."

Police are seeing another disturbing trend: young recruits ordered to record themselves committing serious crimes before they can join the gang.

"Burglaries, assaults, auto thefts,' Schoenfeld said. "Doing drive-bys and running from the police."

According to detectives, gang recruits must commit a list of crimes and prove they followed through before they can become a member of the gang.

A call for tougher penalties for juvenile offenders

Jenny Brotherson believes gang leaders are pushing the teenaged gang members to do more of this dirty work because they're aware Utah's juvenile justice system gives young offenders breaks.

"They know that these juveniles can commit these violent crimes, or even if it's theft of cars, and they're going to get a slap on the wrist," she said.

Jenny Brotherson expects the three teens convicted in connection with her son's homicide to be released before they turn 21. She contemplates if the teen driver of the car that hit her son would have done a lot more time if he was tried and convicted as an adult.

"If he would have been charged in the adult system, he would have been looking at a life sentence, possibly," she said.

Jenny Brotherson is embarking on a letter-writing campaign, asking Utah lawmakers to consider tougher consequences for juveniles who commit violent crimes.

"They're not just kids, they're gang members," she said. "They're carrying weapons. If you get in their way while they're committing a crime, they'll kill you and they don't care."

The family of Cody Brotherson has a Facebook page, Cody's Voice, dedicated to his life.

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