news-record.com

GREENSBORO — The number of identified gang members and the amount of gang graffiti have increased in recent months, but that's not the only thing that keeps Greensboro police Sgt. Mike Richey's phone ringing.

Richey, who has worked with gangs here for 10 years , organizes educational forums to teach people to identify warning signs of drug use and gang involvement.

For the past few years, Richey and Detective Ernest Cuthbertson , the city's only dedicated gang investigator, put on two or three such forums per month.

But after a number of gang-related homicides in Greensboro this year, Richey is hearing from more and more people who want to learn about gangs.

"My phone has rung more in the past few weeks than it has in the past year and a half," Richey said. "We could do this three times a week."

The next forum will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 28 in Webb Hall, 1601 E. Market St . on the N.C. A&T campus.

Parents, grandparents and caregivers are encouraged to attend this free workshop to learn how to identify the warning signs of drug and gang involvement and how to determine the best course of action to combat these problems.

According to police, more than 12 nationally organized gangs are represented in Greensboro.

Contact Sonja Elmquist at 373-7090 or selmquist@news-record.com