A FACE IN THE CROWD

THE CITY DOREEN SOTELO joined an organization that wears uniforms, protects its own. works the street, carries weapons, and lives on the edge. No, not a gang, but the Dallas Police Department.

A 20-year-old graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, Sotelo (pictured at right) volunteered to participate in a DPD gang prevention program that placed a series of striking posters in the hallways of local junior and senior high schools. The posters carry slogans such as “Be Some Body “-depicting a dead body wearing a coroner’s toe tag-and “Get Into Heavy Metal”-handcuffs, to be exact.

Sotelo, who now attends the police academy and hopes to work in the anti-gang unit, grew up around Hispanic gangs in her Love Field neighborhood. She credits her parents-and particularly a strict father-for her interest in law enforcement. “The gang kids knew I wanted to become a police officer and generally stayed away from me, especially after they saw me riding around in a squad car.

“They don’t listen when you talk tothem about being gangsters. Basically,they call you a white pig.’” says Sotelo,who remains pessimistic about solvingthe gang problem in the future. “Thegangs are going to gel bigger and moreout of hand.”