Today’s gangs are more violent than in the past, says Orange DA

GOSHEN – Gangs, gang violence and drug dealing varies from city to city in Orange County, said District Attorney David Hoovler.
The worst of the gang activities is in Newburgh with it to a lesser degree
in Middletown and even less in Port Jervis, he said.
Hoovler said gang violence is more prevalent today than it was in the past.
“They are not nearly like the gangs were in the early ‘90s. They are younger, they still have a violent aspect to them, but in the ‘90s it was about making money and the violence only came with it if someone impinged on the drug trade. Now the younger generation of those involved in gangs just shoot people because of respect.”
The violent MS-13 gang from Long Island is filtering into the Mid-Hudson Valley, Hoovler said.
The DA had high praise for the police in the three cities. “They do the job they are expected to do and they do it fairly well,” he said.