Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale (CCAF), in conjunction with the Detectives Association, Inc. of Nassau County (DAI), will hold a free "Gang Awareness" community seminar. This presentation will be held at the Ellsworth Allen Park Community Center, Motor Avenue, Farmingdale on Thursday, Jan. 22, beginning at 7:30 p.m., and the seminar is open to all residents and business owners of Farmingdale School District #22.

Corey Alleyne, a retired detective with Nassau County's Special Investigations squad and county's premier gang expert will lead the presentation. According to Alleyne, there are easily thousands of gang members in Nassau County, about six to eight nationally known gangs and several hundred provincial posses.

"We thought it important to bring together all Farmingdale citizens so they could learn how to recognize the warning signs of gang activity, since it is impacting every aspect of our community today. Whether we're talking about identifying gang markings, such as colors, hand signs, tattoos, emblems or jewelry, we need to know how to work with law enforcement to protect our community," said Mike Grello, CCAF president.

Grello said gangs are equal opportunity recruiters and criminals, and their membership encompasses many people, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, culture, religion or socio-economic status. He said he is particularly concerned about gang recruitment among young children.

"The information we're going to share is honest, sometimes shocking, but it will help parents, business owners and community leaders have a clear picture of the problem and arm them with the tools they need to combat an increasing gang problem in Farmingdale," Tom Willdigg, DAI president said.

The seminar is free and for additional information, please call Tom Willdigg at the DAI office at 573-7688.