Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office
Jerry L. Clayton, Sheriff
Last summer, 17-year-old Keon Washington was shot and killed at a house party because of a
feud between rival youth groups who call themselves Rakklife and Finesse Gang. Since then the
amount of violence and gang type behavior has continued to escalate. Last week another young
man was killed, 20-year-old Keandre Duff.
From last year to current, the violence has escalated from mimicking gang culture by way of fist
fights to shootouts and claiming territory this year. The violence must stop! The only way to do
so is for all of us, as a community, to take a stance on a unified front.
Our kids are scared and if we as adults, parents, aunts, grandparents, neighbors and law
enforcement, provide safety they will find it themselves. They will be forced to choose sides
and the gang will become their family. Every day we allow to go by without addressing this
issue we make things worse.
Today and everyday moving forward, the message is very simple...anyone and everyone that
decides to prey upon others in our community, that chooses to incite violence and engage in
unlawful behavior will be identified, found and arrested. This type of unlawful behavior will not
be tolerated.
If you have taken a path of lawlessness and terror, if you decide to act like a predator and prey
on the defenseless, if you choose to carry guns and shoot innocent people, if you choose to
break into homes, sell dope and engage in gang activity we will identify you. We will find you,
we will arrest you and we will put you in jail.
Law enforcement agencies, together with our state and federal partners have ramped up our
efforts and share a single focus. We are all committed to eliminate the rouge, criminal element
here in Washtenaw County. To the predators in our county, if attention is what you were
seeking, you now have ours.
To the good members of the community, we need you to stand strong with us. We cannot be
entirely successful without your help and cooperation. We all have choices; to both sit by and
wait for someone else to do it or stand up and embrace the responsibilities we all have in
making our neighborhoods a safer community.
Others may not say it and some may want to disagree, but I’ll say it. We have a gang problem
here in our county. We must acknowledge it in order to eradicate it and you have our
commitment to do so.
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office
Jerry L. Clayton, Sheriff
To that end and without divulging specifics, I am announcing that for the foreseeable future,
the WCSO will enhance its collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners; Ypsilanti
Police Department and EMU PD by strategically increasing its investigative and patrol presence
in all of eastern Washtenaw County, including the city of Ypsilanti.
Here is what you can do:
• If you see something, say something. Text in anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers: Text
CSM Washtenaw and your tip to 274637 (CRIMES) or call 1-800-SPEAK UP.
•
Become an Interrupter. Join us as a volunteer to canvass the neighborhood passing out
information and interrupting crime before it happens. If you’re interested call us at 734973-4764.
•
Check your young person’s social media pages. Look for signs of Rakklife, Finnesse Gang
or any other group affiliations and address it right away.
•
If you see your friend or loved one wearing clothes with Rakklife, Finesse Gang or any
other group affiliations, talk to them about it and know that this is not just a group of
boys hanging out and making music, but rather a gang that participates in violence. By
allowing them to represent violence you are condoning violence.
Here is what we are doing:
• We are bringing the full extent of our resources into your neighborhood and any other
neighborhood known to these gang members. Anyone causing harm will be identified,
apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
• You will see an increased presence of police in your neighborhood.
• On August 29th we will be holding another Gun-Return program so that anyone wanting
to turn in their weapon can do so with no questions ask. Just drop off and go.
Sincerely,
Sheriff, Jerry L. Clayton
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office
Jerry L. Clayton, Sheriff