If there was ever an appropriate name for a computer database, this is it: Gangtracker.

“It’s kind of a one-stop place where all these investigators can go for gang information,” Lt. Eddie Day said.

With Gangtracker, a click of the mouse can help identify thousands of gang members across the Houston area.

It’s a tool many officers are now relying on when they’re out on the streets.

All officers have to do is type in a description of a possible gang member – that can be anything from a name to a vehicle description or even details about tattoos.

In an instant, they get pages of information.

“We got 10 pages of people with teardrops,” Lt. Day said.

AP

A tattoo on the inside of the lip of a former MS-13 gang member

The pages contain the names, addresses and, in some cases, pictures of gang members.

Police say the database has helped solve so many crimes, it’s hard to keep track of them all.

One of the most recent was a shooting in southwest Houston that left two people dead last September.

“Homicide investigators working that case had a street name of a gang member, no other information,” Lt. Day said.

But that was enough to match with a gang member in the database … case closed.

Gangtracker has been online a little over a year.  Right now, HPD is offering bi-weekly seminars to train its officers on the program. 

Because of its success, HPD says all officers will be required to take the course.