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By Paul Carter
Straight Edgers Considered Security Risk for Olympics
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- A Salt Lake City gang called the Straight
Edgers has been flagged as a concern for the 2002 Olympics. The
gang's activities have not made the news for several months, perhaps
due to prison sentences for some gang members. But one Salt Lake
City Police officer says that the group is included in security
preparations for next year's events.
Referring to the Straight Edgers, Jim Hill who is a 23 year veteran
with the SLCPD says, "There are a lot of things to worry about for
the Olympics and they'll be among them. They are very violent and
are usually fairly heavily tattooed. They don't like people who drink
or smoke or have pre-marital sex. They take it to the limits by
inflicting pain and suffering on people who do these things."
The violence to which Officer Hill refers was borne out in a 1998
murder. Four Straight Edgers gang members, including one from a
Mormon family, were charged in the fatal beating and stabbing of a
14 year-old boy, October 31, 1998. At least two of the gang members
were sentenced to prison in 1999.
The Straight Edgers are estimated at 150 members, many of whom wear
jackets bearing the logo of a large X and the smaller letters s and e
each on the sides of the X.
Sources:
Sinners face gang's wrath
Toronto CA Sun 17Feb01 D4
By Eric Francis: Sun Media
Olympic security risk
LDS 'Straight Edger' Gets 5 to Life
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