EPHRATA, Wash. – The Ephrata School District hosted a town hall meeting Thursday night to address gang activity impacting Ephrata and surrounding communities.
The meeting was called “Understanding Youth Gangs,” and it was arranged in partnership with the North Central Educational Service District (NCESD), the Ephrata Police Department and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
“Criminal street gangs have been in Grant County for decades,” Sheriff Joe Kriete said. “They are involved in drug distribution, human trafficking and the violence that goes along with those enterprises. For communities to better manage their gang issues, the public needs to be educated about the criminal street gang culture.”
According to a press release shared by the school district, the town hall meeting showcased a detailed presentation from the NCESD, covering “types of gangs operating in Grant County, recognizable behaviors and key indicators of gang involvement, observable markers of gang affiliation, and preventative steps and community action strategies.”
Following the NCESD’s presentation, representatives from the school district, Ephrata police, and Grant County Sheriff’s Office participated in a Q&A session to answer questions from the community.
“This is not just a law enforcement issue — it’s a community issue. We all play a role in keeping our neighborhoods and schools safe,” Ephrata Police Chief Erik Koch said.
According to Sarah Morford, Ephrata School District’s Communications Director, the turnout and results of the town hall meeting were positive.
“Our meeting wrapped up a bit later than anticipated as the community was so engaged with conversation. We had more than 120 people in attendance and very good audience participation. Our Q&A session went for an hour and dozens of people asked questions,” Morford stated.
