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If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. 149030 U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice (Pts. 1 &):. This document has been reproduced exactly as received from the p~rson or organization originating it. Points of view or opinions stated in this d0.c~ment ~re those of ~he authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the National Institute of Justice. Permission to reproduce this copyrighted material has been granted by FBI Law Enforcement BJ]JJetjn to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). Further reproduction outside of the NCJRS system requires permission of the copyright owner. Davis, R.H. "Outlaw Motorcyclists: A Problem for Police (Part 1). \I FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, October 1982, Vol. 51, No. 10, 12-17. NATIONAL YOUTH GANG INFORMATION CENTER 4301 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 730 Arlington, Virginia 22203 1-800-446-GANG • 703-522-4007 NYGIC Document Number: 'fo !oS- Permission Codes: Outlaw Motorcyclists A Problem for Police (Part I) By ROGER H. DAVIS* Special Agent Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, D.C. 'Special Agent Davis was formerly assigned to the Behavioral Science Unit, FBI Academy. Quantico, Va. "We're just a bunch of happy-go lucky guys trying to make it in this world," 1 says Sonny Barger, head of the notorious Hell's Angels motorcycle gang. But today, evidence is mounting to indicate that some of the freewheel ing riders of the 1960's and 1970's have grown up in terms of criminal sophistication. 12 I FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin ----------------------------------"'::\1l:l i , .. -----"_______ . _ "The level of criminal involvement of persons connected with these adult gangs in the United States and Canada has influenced law enforcement officials to take a harder look at organized gang involvement in crime." With a national law enforcement focus directed more and more toward criminal violence, outlaw motorcycle gangs have gained increasing national attention in recent years. According to Pennsylvania Congressman Robert Walker, "The problem of motorcycle gangs is pervasive and growing. They pose a serious threat to our society.... " 2 The level of criminal involvement of persons connected with these adult gangs in the United States and Canada has influenced law enforcement offi cials to take a harder look at organized gang involvement in crime. FBI investi gations of the activities of some mem bers of major motorcycle gangs in the United States have confirmed a deep ening gang involvement in narcotics manufacturing and distribution, prosti tution, weapons-related violations, ex tortion, murder, arson-for-hire, pornography, plotection rackets, loan sharking, interstate transportation of stolen property and stolen motor vehi cles, insurance fraud, and obstruction of justice. The amount of criminal activity is alarming. Gang members are thriving on illegal profits reaped from their in volvement in criminal enterprises. Law enforcement officers conducting gang investigations see these groups as posing complex criminal problems. Mo torcycle gang members are now in vestino money gained from illegal enterprises into legitimate business ventures. Working relationships with other criminal groups have surfaced, and instances have been reported of motorcycle gang members accepting murder contracts, strong-arming busi ness competitors, and being used as enforcers in collecting gambling debts. - _______________________________~-- October 1982/ 13 ---------- Complex violations committed by lar to the Hollister and Riverside motorcycle gang members demand a events. Probably the most publicized of .~ deeper knowledge of group behavior. the movies was "The Wild Ones," in '~ In order to be effective in gang investi which bikers were portrayed as mod- ! gations, law enforcement agencies ern-day Robin Hoods seeking revenge . must not only commit resources to in on a world that did them wrong. This telligence analysis but also understand and several other similar movies ro the structure and characteristics of the manticized motorcycle club behavior . motorcycle gang. 3 and sparked an interest, drawing oth ers to motorcycle clubs. History Through the 1950's and early To understand the changing na 1960's, police problems with motorcy ture of law enforcement problems in cle groups were primarily connected volving motorcycle gangs, it is with controlling large gatherings. In important to know a brief history of July 1965, however, a rape incident these gangs in America. Many of the occurred that changed the future role outlaw groups started as recreational of the Hell's Angels. The gang held groups, but all have drawn status and their annual rally at Bass Lake in Cali- ' structure from the Hell's Angels. Hunt fornia. Although the incident was rela Special Agenl Davis er Thompson, who has written much tively typical of problems connected about the Hell's Angels, traced the with large gatherings of motorcyclists, beginning of the gang to groups like media coverage primed the public for the PO BOBS 4 and the Market Street an incident and provided an "orgy of Commandos. Both groups were said to publicity that gave long dormant Hell's include persons drawn together in Angels eighteen years worth of expo loosely knit gatherings of individuals sure in six months and it naturally went sharing a comparatively rare interest in to their heads." 6 motorcycles.s This creation of a national interest The early group of Hell's Angels in motorcycle gangs in the 1960's was, was only one of several motorcycle in large part, a media phenomenon. clubs active between the late 1940's Social scientists have identified the im and the 1960's. Several key media pact the media has upon behavior. The: events brought the Angels to public effects include not only changes in' attention and provided the media boost attitudes and values but also imitative which propelled them toward a nation behavior.1 The media boost given the al reputation. Hell's Angels encouraged similar be In the summer of 1947, in Hollis havior in other motorcycle gangs. ter, Calif., and later in the fall in River Many gang members are now in side, Calif., thousands of motorcyclists their midthirties,B and as the gangs gathered for motorcycle runs which matured, gang problems'also changed. ended in rioting, destruction of proper Police problems posed by outlaw ty, and in Riverside, two deaths. The gangs can be categorized into a nUM events posed an awesome crowd con ber of areas, including crowd (' ,/ ....; trol task for the small number of police community fear, territorial bat" officers in these two communities. In club dominance, rivalry over tl- the summer of 1948, again in River tro\. of narcotics and vice traG. J' C side, Calif., 5,000 cyclists gathered, crime conspiracies. and again, the event turned into a riot. The Riverside police chief blamed this Crowd Control occurrence on visiting "outlaws," and The frequent migration of gang the term "outlaws" began to be ap members to rallies, such as annual plied to individuals connected with Labor Day and Fourth of July runs, some motorcycle clubs. Later, movies continue to draw police attention. Po were made based upon incidents simi- lice agencies are spending valuablE man-hours, both in planning and con trol of these large gatherings and ir applying preventive measures to Iimr 14 I FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin _________________________________ ~-----------------=~~----------------- hrr,hl~!m~ with the groups. Additionally, Hell's Angels, Outlaws, and other A Hell's Angel member, turned Gov is a need for specific police intel gangs continue as the gangs struggle ernment witness, provided evidence of ligence-gathering activities, including to dominate the area's lucrative vice a code of silence by describing the identifying fugitives occasionally con and narcotics trade.18 Incidents in killing of two probationary members nected with some groups. Incidents North Carolina have resulted in an over the mere suggestion that one was occasionally occur in spite of 'police intensi~ied law enforcement effort a police informer.21 A Pagan gang planning efforts.9 against gang-related crime problems, member gave similar testimony. "'I including execution-style slayings.19 just killed a snitch,' Boyd announced Community Fear as he returned to the party. 'Is there A more pervasive problem is the Crime Conspiracies any more?' As a Pagan prospect, Boyd ~':'·,-?ption citizens have of the dan In the 1970's, another problem had demonstrated his loyalty to the :;osed by gangs in their communi surfaced which served as an indicator club." 22 ;"eports of the presence of an of deepening gang involvement in Because of a strictly enforced ;,;ang, though legitimate cause for criminal activity. A complex interstate code, there are few discussions with :',:er, anxiety, are difficult for police to network of associations developed be outsiders about gang-related criminal deal with until an incident occurs. Inci tween rebel gangs, and this "brother activities. The code appears to be im dents in various parts of the country hood" provided links for more posed upon nonmembers as well. Wit , have caused citizen action against sophisticated criminal activities. Crime ness intimidation by gang members, ) gang presence in the community.10 In territories were determined, and fixed both directly and indirectly, is an exten I ~ two cases, citizen concerns stirred ac roles and characteristic ways of doing sion of this code and a problem tion by city and county boards, precipi business evolved. Particularly worri officers frequently face in gang cases. t&.ting charges that the police were some to law enforcement officers were The Margo Compton case is an exam afraid to deal with the gangs. 11 the characteristics of organization that ple of what happened to one person who testified against Hell's Angels. Not Territorial Battles only was she slain, folfowing r.e~ court Battles for "turf" are a continuing "Witness intimidation disclosure about a club member'S in law enforcement problem.