Over 80 people working in law enforcement, education, youth counseling and other areas attended the sixth annual Western Gang Conference in Rock Springs last week.

The conference was sponsored by the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Salt Lake  County (Utah) Metro Gang Unit, Wyoming Peace Officers Association, Western Wyoming Community College and the Rocky Mountain Information Network.

One of the speakers was Tony Avendorph, formerly with the Illinois Department of Corrections and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office. Other speakers included representatives of Utah law enforcement agencies as well as the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Topics included youth gangs, foreign gangs on U.S. soil, females in gangs and motorcycle gangs.

Sweetwater County Sheriff Rich Haskell says people interested in learning more about gangs should check out an FBI website devoted to the issue

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