Police officers from across the state are at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center this week learning how to identify gangs and crimes they commit.
The conference is sponsored by the South Carolina Gang Investigators Association.
The association says gangs have changed over the past decade and where they used to be territorial to neighborhoods, they now associate with national organizations.
"One of the reasons I would say it's growing is because of the media as far as a lot of the guys in the rap industry kinda make it seem like it's a great idea to be involved in gang activity and a lot of kids don't see the negative impacts it can have on them such as death and incarceration," said Gerard Walls with the Richland County Sheriff's Office.
About every South Carolina county is represented at the conference, as well as officers from Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia.
