Othello police take part in gang database

OTHELLO — The Othello Police Department is joining forces with other agencies to document gang information in a database.

Police Chief Steve Dunnagan asked the city council to expend $980 for the department to participate in the program.

Council approved the request Monday, said City Administrator Ehman Sheldon.

“There is currently a significant database being used specifically to house centralized intelligence information on known gang members in Eastern Washington,” explained Dunnagan. “The information contained in this database would be beneficial … because it would provide critical information needed in the investigation of gang-related crime, as well as allow us to share our local information with other agencies to help them investigate their gang-related crime.

The Moses Lake Police Department also utilizes the database.

“We know that gang members are very mobile and it is not unusual for them to travel from one city to another to commit crimes,” he stated. “Having a central databank of information would help us obtain faster, more specific information.

The GangNet database was developed by the Spokane Police Department who have made it available to other agencies to contribute information on known gang members or view information on known gang members for investigative purposes, he explained.