SONS OF SILENCE MOTORCYCLE GANG The SOS have been busy since 1992 and, for their size, have been quite successful in establishing new chapters throughout the U.S. and, for that matter, the rest of the world. Since 1992, the following, known chapters have been created in the U.S.: In 1994, the SOS began new chapters in (1) Terre Haute, Indiana, in (2) Paris, Illinois and in (3) Muncie, Indiana. (According to Indiana law enforcement, the Terre Haute chapter has, as of the year 2000, ceased to exist and during November, 2001, the Muncie chapter was basically put out of business also with the arrest of their one full member and two probates). In 1995, they initiated a new chapter in (4) Manhattan, Kansas. In 1998, the SOS began a new chapter in (5) Minnesota but, at this time, the city or exact area is not known to me. In 2001, the SOS placed two more chapters in Kansas, this time in (6) Leavenworth, Kansas and in (7) Junction City, Kansas. And also in 2001, the SOS started a new chapter in ( Ft. Smith, Arkansas. The SOS created a new (9) Nomads Chapter in 2001 in the Trenton, New Jersey area and a brand new chapter in (10) Eastern Denver, made up of former members of the Denver chapter. On January 2, 2002, the Illinois Secretary of State Police, Springfield, Illinois, reported a new SOS chapter at (11) 329 Locust St., Eldred (Greene County), Illinois 62027. It was the first creation of a new SOS chapter in the U.S. for 2002. During February 2002, it was confirmed that the SOS now have a chapter in (12) Cheyenne, Wyoming, with the president living in Cheyenne and some members living in Casper. (There is no clubhouse per se at this time but, at one time, the address 4130 County Road 212, Hillsdale, WY. may have been used for meetings). Sometime in early 2002, the exact date unknown, the SOS began another full chapter in Colorado, this time (13) the Western Denver chapter. Law enforcement intelligence from Florida on 02/01/03 disclosed the presence of a new S.O.S. chapter in Sarasota, Fl., the (14th) alleged new chapter since 1992. Looks like the SOS chapter in Paris, Illinois has gone belly up and has been replaced by a new chapter in (14) Darwin, Illinois, several miles south of Paris. Those guys do like to move around, don’t they? As of October 1, 2003, this writer has received no additional information as to any new S.O.S. chapters in the U.S. (Currently in Colorado are the following SOS chapters; Denver, W. Denver, E. Denver, Colorado Springs, Northern (Ft. Collins), and Western (Grand Junction/Durango). To summarize, there appears to have been 14 S.O.S. chapters created in the U.S. since 1992 with 4 created in 2002 and none in 2003. Checking the SOS web-site on July 19, 2003 disclosed the presence of a probating SOS chapter in Adams County, Colorado. Also, MCIO Southern Illinois Region, reported the alleged presence of a new SOS chapter in North Terre Haute, Indiana. These last two will be checked out ASAP. On Oct.28, 2003, this writer was advised that the probating, SOS chapter in North Terre Haute, IN. the (15th) is located at 5171 Clinton Road and is up and running. This chapter’s clubhouse and logo was confirmed by a physical sighting by the author on 01/29/04. From the Sons of Silence guest-book, “the Northern Louisiana probate chapter just got their colors} according to a 10/09/04 entry. (On 10/31/04, information was received from law enforcement in Louisiana that the SOS have, indeed, established a new chapter in Minden, LA. near Shreveport, making it the (16th) new SOS chapter created since 1992. Also, within the same guest-book was an entry seeking photos of the new signs for the clubhouse for the old Paducah, KY. chapter of the SOS which, according to a very knowledgeable Colorado gentleman, has been in-active for many years. We will try to check this last information out and let everyone know. On 02/02/05 in an email entitled “Sons of Silence Prospects TEXAS, Jim Wattles writes that in a section of an SOS roster dated 01/05, there were four prospects and three probates listed to include probate-TX Rick – cell (254-258-9691, which is a Waco, TX. area code. Also, on 02/02/05, Jim Wattles writes that there are now two, new Sons of Silence chapters in Colorado. The first is South Denver (17th) and the second, Grand Junction, the (18th) new SOS chapter created since 1992. Finally, Jim writes that the Wyoming chapter was rumored to have shut down and this seems to be confirmed, as there is no longer mention of them on the SOS roster. It is clear that the major 1%er gangs have initiated an unprecedented expansion of new chapters or charters within the United States since 1992. This is also reflected throughout the rest of the world. Since the so-called U.S. national truce ended in 1996 or 1997, the gangs, especially the Hells Angels, Outlaws, Bandidos and Sons of Silence have exploded onto the U.S. scene with new chapters. Beginning with the February, 2001 shoot-out and knifings between members of the Hells Angels and Mongols in San Diego at an American Legion hall during an NCOM/Confederation of Clubs meeting, the propensity for violence has increased one hundred per cent. Officer safety and public safety dictate a close watch on the expansion of these non-traditional organized crime groups into the 21st centaury.