Harford County is located northeast of Baltimore City and is immediately adjacent to Baltimore and Cecil counties. According to the 2000 census, the population is approximately 218,000 in primarily suburban and rural areas. Interstate 95 and Route 40 run through the county providing easy access for gangs and drug trafficking from Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Most gang activity is concentrated in less expensive, affordable housing areas along the Route 40 corridor in Edgewood, Aberdeen, and Havre de Grace.

The majority of street gangs is associated with either the Bloods or the Crips and is African American. Both the Bloods and the Crips are organized in two or three sets. Approximately 200+ total members of the Bloods and 90+ members of the Crips are in Harford County. A few local gangs are not associated with either the Bloods or Crips and have limited membership.

Gang membership is very fluid, with a constant flow of individuals both joining and leaving the gang, especially as gang members move in and out of neighborhoods. The total amount of gang crime is probably modest and includes local drug sales, robbery and burglary, and assaults within and between gang members. The Bloods and Crips are typically competitive, rival gangs whose interactions often result in violence. Often, those trying to be accepted as members are most violent. Initiation into a gang often requires new members to commit a crime to prove that they are not cops and to demonstrate their commitment to the gang. New members may also be beaten to demonstrate their courage and required to bring something of value to the gang. In December 2004, a Harford County cab driver, Derald Howard Guess, was killed. According to a January 16, 2005 Baltimore Sun article, police have tied the killing to a possible gang-initiation rite. Gangs have been associated with several other murders and shootings in the County.

In the housing complexes where these gangs are active, there is considerable evidence of links with Blood and Crips members from New Jersey, New York, and Baltimore. Some families move from NJ/NY to get away from gang activity. Unfortunately, they end up bringing youth who identify themselves with the gangs to Harford County. Other gang members joined the gangs while they were in the Harford County detention center and then continued their gang involvement when they were released. While there are links with gangs from outside Harford County, the gangs are primarily local youth and their criminal activity is locally controlled.

The Latino population in the county is very low, but there are Latinos working in construction and landscape crews. Police are concerned that this might enable Latino gangs, especially Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), to gain a foothold in the county, but there is no evidence of this as of yet.

A small number of Caucasians are active in Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMG), especially the Hell’s Angels. Hells’ Angels and the Pagans, as well as non-OMG motorcycle gangs, travel through and stop in Harford County at restaurants or bars. Hell’s Angels are trying to establish their dominance in the area and this is leading to conflict with the Pagans. This is an emerging threat in Harford County. The greatest concerns are a possible emergence of a methamphetamine problem or violence growing out of the competition between the Hell’s Angels and the Pagans.

Harford County public schools have worked hard to limit gang involvement and gang conflict in the schools. A dress code was introduced to help eliminate the wearing of gang colors or symbols. If there are any incidents that are gang related, school authorities respond promptly and will use school suspensions, if necessary.