The Gangs of Abilene: Why They've Gone Underground

However, it's clear more is being done to stop that activity.

Chad Mitchell is a minister who has encountered numerous people in Abilene who've been victims or even suspects of gang-related crimes. He's also helped people break free from the gang life.

With help from groups like Chad's "Stop the Violence," there's a reason you haven't heard about much gang activity happening recently. Much of the open affiliation has dropped off which the Abilene Police Department contributes to a number of gang-related arrests in recent years.

However, that doesn't mean the actual gangs have gone away.

Lt. Gary Bones says it can be tricky to definitively link a crime to gang activity. But he has no doubt Abilene gangs are often linked to crime.

Drive-by shootings that police believed gangs were behind started happening more frequently just a few years ago. So, APD got some help from federal law enforcement and teamed up to arrest multiple gang members. The result? Far fewer gangs out on the streets.

Lt. Bone also attributes a drop in noticeable gang activity to the policing under Chief Stan Standridge where a unit is dedicated to keeping up with crime trends.

The battle against gangs is far from over. To succeed, it'll require unification and the belief that working together can, in fact, stop the violence.