Gang Enforcement History

The Gang Intelligence and Team Enforcement Mission (GITEM) concept was conceived in late 1992 by law enforcement agencies in the metropolitan Phoenix area to maximize law enforcements effects on gangs. The mutually supportive program was designed to cripple the criminal activity of gangs as well as to reduce the impact on law enforcement agencies that such concentrated enforcement produces. This effort was a response to the need for all law enforcement to take a strong and coordinated stance against the epidemic of gang and street violence.

During the first year of operation, GITEM implemented two separate regions or deployment centers (in Phoenix and Tucson) from which officers could be deployed to support law enforcement agencies statewide. GITEM consisted of employees from 22 different agencies

In 1996 GITEM established two undercover squads, the first in the nation, specifically to infiltrate and dismantle gangs as criminal enterprises. The squads were based out of Phoenix and Tucson but conducted operations in every area of the state.

In 2003, GITEM fell victim to changing priorities and budget shortfalls and went through a significant downsizing process to meet budgetary restraints. In 2006 special funding was granted to revitalize the task force. The task force was also given the new responsibility of combating the rising incidents of human smuggling and illegal immigration. The new task force name is the Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission (GIITEM).

GIITEM’s unique approach brings together law enforcement and prosecution agencies from state, county, municipal, federal and tribal jurisdictions in a coordinated, intelligence-driven approach to deal with gangs on a large scale. Traditionally, Arizona agencies addressed the gang problem individually rather than collectively. This separate approach resulted in displacement rather than focused and directed gang enforcement efforts and identification. The primary benefit of the GIITEM project is the combined resolution of the involved agencies and citizens, who ultimately are the recipients of the project’s services, to cripple gangs in the state rather than displacing gang related problems into adjoining jurisdictions.

GIITEM is one of only a few truly multi-agency statewide gang task force programs in the country. GIITEM’s anti-gang efforts are directed into three areas: enforcement, intelligence gathering and training. GIITEM’s success can be contributed to its ability to confront gang problems statewide without regard to the normal jurisdictional issues that affect municipal and county law enforcement agencies.