“Where You From? Run That Fade!” A Highlight Reel of Los Angeles Gang Trends in Juvenile Institutions

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Lonnie Abernathy Jr. is a Deputy Probation Officer and academy instructor with the Los Angeles County Probation Department, bringing over a decade of experience working with gang-involved juveniles and young adults in both custody and community supervision. Lonnie has served in various capacities, including frontline custodial supervision and as a caseworker managing a caseload of high-risk probationers from diverse gang subsets including 18th street, Florencia 13, MS-13, and various Crip, Blood, and Hoover sets. For years, Lonnie volunteered with the Intensive Gang Supervision Program, mentoring juvenile probationers deeply entrenched in street gangs, helping reduce gang violence and promoting positive alternatives during reentry. His experiences led him to pilot the Gang and Narcotics Intelligence Unit, collaborating with law enforcement partners to analyze trends, combat gang violence, and assist with contraband and drug interdiction. As a STC and POST certified instructor, Lonnie has led interagency trainings on gang culture and institutional dynamics, drawing on his extensive custody, casework, and field experience. In addition to his assignment as a trainer, Lonnie continues to deploy assisting with frontline supervision in LA’s custody facilities. Lonnie received his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications with a minor in Sociology from Prairie View A&M University, Texas.

Kevin Bodden is a Supervising Deputy Probation Officer with the Intensive Gang Supervision Program (IGSP), serving 20 years with the Los Angeles County Probation Department. His career began working with high-risk youth entrenched in gang activity. Throughout his tenure in various institutional roles, Kevin amassed extensive knowledge of LA gangs, earning recognition as an expert on current issues and trends within the juvenile system. Leveraging his expertise, he joined a multi-agency Gang Task Force led by the LAPD, where he offered probation guidance and ensured compliance among high-profile gang-affiliated probationers. His deep understanding of juvenile institutions and field operations led him to the department's Staff Training Office, contributing to the development of the Field Probation Officer Core (FPOC) training program. To stay connected with gang culture, Kevin rejoined the LAPD as a CLEAR officer in the San Fernando Valley. He later assumed the role of Administrative Supervisor for the Residential Treatment Services Bureau, addressing daily operational needs and identifying gang dynamics within juvenile facilities. His expertise prompted the creation of a staff training module, focusing on gang trends in LA’s juvenile facilities, keeping them informed about gang-related updates. Kevin received his BA in Sociology from California State University, Fullerton.

William Brigges is a Deputy Probation Officer II with the Los Angeles County Probation Department. As a Special Enforcement Operations deputy, William’s current assignment focuses on gang and crime suppression through community supervision, compliance checks, and strategic joint law enforcement operations. Starting as a coach for at-risk youth, William has 16+ years of public service working with juveniles, adults, families, and communities in the greater Los Angeles area, gaining a wide range of practice efficacy and cultural competence. He has blended his education and work experience through practical application, linking theory and principles to community-based problem solving by operationalizing evidence-based practices. William helped open the Campus Vernon Kilpatrick Pilot Project and implemented the small group treatment model, delivering excellent results with respect to gang intervention, violence reduction, and recidivism rates. In 9+ years with LACP, William has been an advocate for officer and community safety, working as a frontline deputy in juvenile institutions, field probation officer, and lead trainer in various subject matter, including helping lead the revamp of LACP’s defensive tactics program, implementing Gracie Survival Tactics (GST) and the SafeWrap system. William holds a BA in Sociology with concentration in Criminology and Criminal Justice from California State University, Northridge.