Gangs in the Western Suburbs

Murder. Money laundering. Drug dealing. Violent robberies. Extortion.

All part of the underground economy of Chicago's gang networks. Oak Leaves breaks down some of the gang influence that's spilled over into the western suburbs, including parts of Oak Park and River Forest.

It's not that either village has a gang problem, police say, it's that many gang members travel through the villages, en route to and from the West Side and Proviso Township.

But that doesn't mean police officials aren't watching for gang activity. Reporter Bill Dwyer notes that Oak Park's police force has one officer assigned to the Drug Enforcement Agency, along with two gang intelligence officers, while River Forest maintains a presence with West Suburban Gang and Drug Enforcement Task force (WEDGE).

Those concerns, and anti-gang strategies, are spelled out in the 2012 edition of The Gang Book, the Chicago Crime Commission's extensive manual outlining the M.O.s of the Chicago area's estimated 70 to 100 gangs and their ranks, which authorities estimate between 68,000 and 150,000.