WELCOME TO VGIA

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Virginia Gang Investigators Association or VGIA. The VGIA was established in 1997 by a group of law enforcement professionals who recognized the importance of having a gang based information sharing network narrowly but intensely focused on responding to the proliferation of street gangs in Virginia. Like other states along the East Coast, a phenomenon also exists in Virginia where well-established criminal street gangs hailing from the West Coast, Mid West, and South West have recently and increasingly joined the population of our existing gangs, bringing the potential of further criminal networking to a new and more threatening level. VGIA will remain committed to bridging the lines of communication between all aspects of law enforcement and providing the most current and reliable information to our membership. In recognizing that any association is only as strong as its membership, VGIA pledges to put its membership first as well, with each and every member held at the highest regard. It is a strong belief of this association that we collectively have an equal voice as we unite in this endeavor to combat against the advancement of street gangs in our communities and the state of Virginia.
  
 
Respectfully,
Randy Crank
President, VGIA

MEMBERS LOGIN

The VGIA Members Only section is open to sworn law enforcement officials including police, probation/parole, corrections and prosecutors.
   
    
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OUR MISSION

In response to the ever increasing gang problem plaguing our nation and state, concerned criminal justice professionals from Virginia began what is today the Virginia Gang Investigators Association.
  
Chartered February 1997, The V.G.I.A. is a non -profit organization made up of law enforcement officers and other members of the criminal justice community. The V.G.I.A. promotes a closely coordinated relationship among gang investigators through extensive and rapid dissemination and exchange of information about gang-related, cult and extremist group activity. The V.G.I.A. supports new techniques from identification and apprehension of gang members and encourages legislation related to the reduction of gang related crimes. Additionally; the V.G.I.A solicits public support of its goals so the citizens might be educated about the prevention regarding organized criminal activities, tactics, philosophies, etc., to its members and any other law enforcement agency upon request.

OUR TRAINING

The VGIA offers training conferences, seminars and certifications from the basic understanding of street gangs for the new gang officer to advanced street gang intelligence and identification. Our training is only for Law Enforcement Officials,  Probation Officers, Parole Officers, Corrections Officers, and Criminal Justice Professionals.

Upcoming VGIA Training Events >>

 

Gang Specialist Certification Course

October 19, 2026

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Founders Inn & Spa (Hilton) 

This course is designed to give a basic understanding of street gangs and to assist in qualifying you as an expert witness in Gang related Court testimony.

Upon successful completion of this eight hour lecture, a fifty(50) question true/false, multiple choice  test, you will receive a “ Gang Specialist Certification” certificate along with a uniform “Gang Specialist” tag (worn with name tag on uniform) or Gang Specialist patch

Registration Form

The Boys from Boyle Heights

           Virginia Beach, Virginia

                October 19, 2026

              Destiny or Choice ?

Focusing on the issue of who we become in life, are we destined to be good or bad, or do we have a choice ? 

From the street of Los Angeles  , “The Boys from Boyle Heights” is the true story of  authors Tony Moreno and Ramon Mendoza. It represents the dichotomy of two boys from the same community who traveled in opposite directions

Where these two distinct life-paths Destiny or Choice? “The Boys from Boyle Heights focuses on the issue of  who we become in life. Reflects on the question, are we destined to be good or bad, or do we have a choice?:

 Tony Moreno– Receiving the name of “Pac Man” by South Central LA Gang Members  and being recognized by that moniker throughout the Law enforcement Community, Tony Moreno was a 32-year veteran of the LAPD gang Unit.  Tony has been providing formal training on various law enforcement subjects since 1982 and has authored various books including  “Lessons from a gang cop” .His character was portrayed in the movie “Colors”

 Ramon Mendoza— Know by many as “Mundo” Ramon Mendoza became a street gang and highly-placed Mexican Mafia prison gang member who defected and became a born-again Christian,. His character was portrayed in the 1992 gang movie. “ America Me” . 

Registration Form

BREAKING NEWS

More…

27th Annual Gang Conference

October 20-23, 2026

Virginia Beach, Virginia

The Virginia Gang Investigators Association is proud to team up with the  Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and  Explosives & Louisa County Sheriffs Office  to sponsor the  27th annual Gang Conference .The conference will be held at the Founders Inn & Spa (Hilton) , 5641 Indian River Road Virginia Beach, VA  23464 from  October 20 -23,2026

The Conference will cover a wide range of topics and instructors from across  the United states.

 Registration Form

 

Hotel: Founders Inn & Spa (Hilton)Founders Inn & Spa (Hilton) 5642 Indian River Road Virginia Beach, Virginia 2344 757-424-5511

Founders Inn Hotel Link

Vendor Conference Registration

VENDOR Application

26th Annual Gang Conference

October 20-23,  2026

Virginia Beach, Virginia

 Vendor Registration Form  

 



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