“Welcome to the Poconos. Welcome to the home of gangs,” read a slide at a presentation sponsored by the Pocono Mountains chapter of the Community Association Institute. Interspersed in the slideshow of inner city tribes of Bloods, Crips and Latin Kings were photos of gang members in quaint gated communities and the parking lots of suburban malls. “You never get rid of crime. You displace crime,” said retired Allentown cop Edward Bachert Jr., who worked the gang detail for more than 15 years. “Gangs are like cancer.”

Twenty-eight managers and representatives of community developments gathered Wednesday at the forum entitled “Crimewatch: Tackling Drugs, Crime and Gang Activity.” There are about 140 Pocono area members in the Community Association Institute who gather at these regular events to network. This was the third event in the last eight years to focus on gangs.  Read more: