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The Los Santos Police Department ― “To Protect and to Serve” "It is the mission of the Los Santos Police Department to safeguard the lives and property of the people we serve, to reduce the incidence and fear of crime, and to enhance public safety while working with the diverse communities to improve their quality of life. Our mandate is to do so with honor and integrity, while at all times conducting ourselves with the highest ethical standards to maintain public confidence. The motto, "To Protect and To Serve," states the essential purpose of the Los Santos Police Department. The Department protects the right of all persons within its jurisdiction to be free from criminal attack, to be secure in their possessions, and to live in peace. The Department serves the people of Los Santos by performing the law enforcement function in a professional manner, and it is to these people that the Department is ultimately responsible." — Chief of Police Giselle Hardinger Official Site of the Los Santos Police Department Employment Opportunities Report A Crime The Los Santos Police Department provides law enforcement services to the City of Los Santos and is responsible for protecting and serving its citizens. The Los Santos Police Department is directed by a Chief of Police, who is appointed to the office by the Mayor of San Andreas. The history of the Los Santos Police Department can be traced directly to Spanish colonial authorities embedded in the missions of the Los Santos countryside in the early 1600s. Needing protection from native raids and frontier bandits, a contingent of Spanish colonial soldiers were hired to guard the compounds of the city. After San Andreas declared independence as the San Andreas Republic during the Mexican-American War, the Republic voluntarily petitioned for annexation into the United States after the war. After growth on the American frontier and continued western expansion, during the 1840s the first formal policing agencies were established formally subsumed under the San Andreas State Militia, the Los Santos Rangers. This frontier service was little more than a night watch service as compared to modernized forces following Peel's doctrines. The department's formal history began in the mid 1870s with the establishment of the City Marshal's Office. This uniformed service was the first municipal civil service within the city of Los Santos. Fifteen police chiefs served from 1879 to 1889, albeit it wasn't until Jim R. Door was police chief for 15 years that a consistency was developed. The department developed into the municipal Los Santos Police Department in the early 20th century. In 1910, the department was one of the first departments in the world to grant policing powers to a female officer. In 1918, the department granted full powers to the first African-American female officer. During World War 1, the force quickly became involved in federal offenses and was seen as a home guard to prosecute saboteurs and other fifth columnists. This persisted for most of the early 20th century, where the "dragnet" policing system was developed with formal beats and patrols. Anti-riot and metropolitan squads first began development here, with squads such as the "Red Squad," an anti-communist policing unit. By the time of World War 2, the department had been through several chiefs and had several issues with bad conduct. With the reformist mayor Bowyer Street in charge of the city, he forced dozen of corrupt commissioners out and brought in a new chief, John D. Halmann. Halmann modernized the force in his brief 2 year tenure, resigning after his refusal to use the force as a strikebreaker unit. Chief Edward Sadler took control during 1941, wherein the force has heavily depleted by the draft. The formal twelve-week training period was replaced by a shortened six week period. During 1944, the Zoot Suit Riots of Los Santos began, resulting in large-scale rioting between servicemen and Latino immigrants. Retired Marine General William Baxter took control in 1951 and had the longest tenure of any Los Santos Chief, serving from 1951 to 1966, only dying of heart trouble. This is when the motto "To Protect and to Serve" was introduced. The 1964 Crenshaw Race Riots were a notable event for the department. Crime rates steadily increased. The department quickly adjusted, greatly increasing recruiting efforts, and bringing crime rates to a somewhat manageable level. As the department grew, criminals became more clever, becoming more secretive, conniving, and illusive. In response to this, various specialized divisions began to emerge, where officers with specific skill sets would be deployed. By the 1970s the department had a full range of different divisions, from field investigation to public liaison, to firearms licensing. The fairly recent invention of the helicopter allowed the department to purchase a full fleet of aviation vehicles, to provide eyes in the sky. The department's SWAT team began development during this period due to shootouts with domestic terrorist groups such as the SLA. By the 1990's the Los Santos Police Department was among the best in the United States. They had become world renown for their ability to efficiently protect and serve the city of Los Santos. All of this was put to the test during the Los Santos riots of 1992. The public was profusely outraged after a hung jury on a trial, culminating in widescale civil unrest not seen since the Crenshaw Riots of 1964. The department was not able to contain the unrest and the National Guard was called in. Although the department was forced to call in the guard, they still showed extreme discipline and organization during a time of high stress and confusion. To date, the Los Santos Police Department has some of the most specialized divisions throughout the country, including the elite Metropolitan Division that houses D Platoon, affectionately known as S.W.A.T. The department has reputable police detectives assigned to particular functions such as gang enforcement, organized crime, and surveillance. Organized under four Bureaus, the Los Santos Police Department provides necessary law enforcement services for all living persons of the City of Los Santos regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability. Public service is at the forefront of our duties and we ensure our officers are held to a high standard when delivering these necessary police functions throughout the City. Staff Officers make up the general management and leadership of the Los Santos Police Department. They are experienced leaders who have direct responsibility for specialized areas of the department. Staff Officers consist of the Chief of Police, two Assistant Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs: Chief of Police — Highest-ranking officer in the Police Department. As the General Manager of the Police Department, the Chief of Police is responsible for the planning, efficient administration, and operation of the Police Department. In this capacity, the Chief of Police directs, plans, and coordinates the enforcement of particular areas of crime, and aims to minimize crime risks across the entire city, to protect persons and property and for the preservation of the peace of the community. Assistant Chief — An executive to the Chief of Police who manages the department in their absence. The Assistant Chief has the responsibility of keeping the Chief of Police informed of all operational activities on a day-to-day basis. Examples of Available Roles: Chief of Staff Commanding Officer of a Bureau Deputy Chief — Directs the activities of one of the five Bureaus within the department. Responsible for the staffing and management of all operations within their assigned Bureau and report directly to the Chief of Police. Examples of Available Roles: Chief of Staff Commanding Officer, Operations-Central Bureau Commanding Officer, Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau Commanding Officer, Administrative Services Bureau Chief of Detectives, Detective Bureau Command Officers compile the backbone of the Los Santos Police Department's Command Staff. Command Officers have responsibility of directing activities related to specific assignments - normally divisions that function under a Bureau. Command Officers will commonly report to a Deputy Chief. Command Officers consist of Police Commanders, Captain IIIs, Captain IIs and Captain Is: Commander — Acts as the Assistant Commanding Officer at one of the five Department Bureaus or leads a Department Group. A Commander is responsible for ensuring compliance with Department policies and procedures by personnel under their supervision; conducts audits of operations; and, makes recommendations to higher management for improving productivity and increasing efficiency. Examples of Available Roles: Commanding Officer, Professional Standards Group Assistant Commanding Officer, Operations-Central Bureau Assistant Commanding Officer, Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau Assistant Commanding Officer, Detective Bureau Assistant Commanding Officer, Administrative Services Bureau Captain (I / II / III) — Is in charge of a geographical area or specialized division. They have final authority over officers in their command. A Captain is responsible for inspecting and overseeing the functions of the patrol officers and detectives to ensure compliance with the Department policies, procedures, regulations, and standards; supervising the administrative and support functions of non-sworn personnel; inspecting personnel, facilities, and tactics for safety and/or training needs; maintaining liaison with numerous municipal, governments, civic organizations, and private citizens to establish and maintain rapport to facilitate Department functions and to promote neighborhood safety and community policing programs. Examples of Available Roles: Commanding Officer, Mission Row Area Commanding Officer, Central Traffic Division Commanding Officer, Training Division Commanding Officer, Metropolitan Division Commanding Officer, Gang and Narcotics Division Patrol Division Commanding Officer Primarily responsible for the supervision of department personnel, Police Supervisors are plotted around the department in different assignments. They are considered the middle management of the Los Santos Police Department and are considered the first layer of management of police resources, staff and deployment initiatives. Lieutenant (I / II) — A position commonly held by police officers who command Watches within our Patrol Areas. Lieutenants can also be in-charge of a specialized division or section, where they must apply sound supervisory principles and techniques to build and maintain an effective work force. They are considered the final layer of supervisory staff before being appointed to a Command Officer role. Examples of Available Roles: Watch Commander, Mission Row Patrol Division Officer-in-Charge, D Platoon Officer-in-Charge, Gang Field Unit Sergeant II — This rank is held by seasoned Sergeants who adapt to a different role, most in the capacity as an Assistant Watch Commander. Sergeant IIs ensure appropriate and sufficient deployment of officers depending upon crime trends in their geographic Area; responds to scenes of serious crimes such as officer-involved shooting, homicide, major robbery and theft; reviews and ensures complete and accurate follow-up investigations. Examples of Available Roles: Assistant Watch Commander, Mission Row Patrol Division Gang Supervisor, Gang Field Unit Squad Leader, D Platoon Sergeant I — Supervises a squad or detail of Police Officers in the performance of their assigned duties; directs the activities of Department personnel in field activities; performs some initial and follow-up investigation of crimes; and does related work. Examples of Available Roles: Watch Supervisor, Central Traffic Division Element Leader, D Platoon Detectives are assigned to investigatory positions throughout the department's Detective Bureau and are managed by the Chief of Detectives. Detectives are responsible for the extensive review of police investigations through case packages and crime reports. Intelligence-based and result-driven, the Los Santos Police Department has some of the most experienced and reputable Detectives all across the country. Detective III — Reviews reports prepared by subordinates, informs the commanding officer of the status of the pending investigations, provides technical expertise, trains and supervises newly assigned Detectives and civilian personnel, and performs related administrative duties. Examples of Available Roles: Detective Supervisor, Major Crimes Division (Acting) Officer-in-Charge, Major Enforcement Section Detective II — Responsible for equipping Detective Trainees with the knowledge and tools that they will require in order to eventually become successful Detectives within their Specialized Detective Division. Examples of Available Roles: Detective Instructor, Major Enforcement Section Complaint Investigator, Internal Affairs Division Detective I — Often assigned to a specialized division and is responsible for responding to the scenes of crimes, conducting preliminary and follow-up investigations, preparing the required investigative reports, preparing a biopsy of the report, apprehending the suspect, preparing the case for successful prosecution, and testifying in court. Examples of Available Roles: Investigator, Gang and Narcotics Division Police Officers are considered the department's boots on the ground. They make up uniformed operations city-wide and are for conducting patrols, responding to 911 calls, taking civilian reports, and other field activities. This category of department employees are considered the largest and fulfill the basic, yet most important functionality of the Los Santos Police Department. Police Officer III+1 — A position commonly held by seasoned officers within the department who are assigned to a specialized division, such as Metro or assigned as a Senior Lead Officer, providing a link that help unite the LSPD with the communities it serves. This is the final paygrade assignment of the Police Officer category of the department. Examples of Available Roles: Senior Lead Officer Field Training Administrator Element Leader, D Platoon Assistant Gang Supervisor Police Officer III - This rank is held by experienced officers who have been deemed capable of having the skillset in order to train probationary police officers. Examples of Available Roles: Field Training Officer, Mission Row Patrol Division Field Training Officer, Central Traffic Division Field Training Officer, Gang Field Unit Field Training Officer, D Platoon (No insignia) Police Officer II — Assigned to a geographic patrol division within the City of Los Santos where they must utilize all the knowledge and tactics learned in the Academy. When upgraded to Police Officer II, officers have independent patrol status and have successfully completed the department's Field Training Program. Examples of Available Roles: Patrol Officer, Mission Row Patrol Division Gang Officer, Gang Field Unit Traffic Officer, Central Traffic Division (No insignia) Police Officer I — First step in the career ladder. Police Officer Is participate in the department's Field Training Program where they undergo rigorous on-the-job training with Field Training Officers to learn more about their role as a police officer. Examples of Available Roles: Probationary Officer Operations-Central Bureau's mission is to support, encourage, and empower all OCB Areas to work in partnership with the diverse residential and business communities of the Bureau to improve the quality of life, enhance public safety, and reduce the fear and incidence of crime. Mission Row Area 1130 Little Bighorn Ave. Los Santos, SA 90006 Serving the Following Communities: Downtown & East Vinewood, Burton, Alta, Mirror Park, Pillbox Hill, Textile City, Mission Row, La Mesa, Murrieta & El Burro Heights, Strawberry, Chamberlain Hills, Davis, Rancho, Cypress Flats, Elysian Island, and Harbor. Mission Row Division History Mission Row Division Map Meet Your Station Captains Meet Your Senior Lead Officers The Detective Bureau (DB) provides functional leadership for detective operations Citywide. The Chief of Detectives is responsible for managing, supervising, and coordinating the operations of the Detective Bureau. The Assistant Commanding Officer assists the Chief of Detectives in coordinating the bureau's activities and will act as the Commanding Officer during the Chief's absence. Gang and Narcotics Division Gang and Narcotics Division (GND) is responsible for disrupting violent street gangs and the means by which they support their lifestyle, including the manufacture, transportation, sale and use of illicit drugs, and sales of firearms in the greater Los Santos area. GND's enforcement efforts also focus on street-level enforcement strategies to effect a reduction in crime. Major Crimes Division Major Crimes Division (MCD) is responsible for investigating missing persons, hate crimes, threats made to public officials/prominent persons, aggravated stalking, piracy and counterfeit sales/goods, animal cruelty, pimping/pandering, pornography, and prostitution/human trafficking. Forensic Science Division The Forensic Science Division (FSD) is responsible for the forensic science that is a critical element of the criminal justice system. Forensic scientists examine and analyze evidence from crime scenes and elsewhere to develop objective findings that can assist in the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of crime or absolve an innocent person from suspicion. Detective School The Los Santos Police Department's Detective School equips its candidates with essential knowledge, enabling them to proficiently execute the responsibilities of an investigator upon successful graduation from the program. The Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau (CTSOB) is tasked with preventing terrorism by effectively sharing information aimed at disrupting terrorist's operational capability and addressing the underlying causes associated with the motivational component; to Protect the public and critical infrastructure by leveraging private sector resources and hardening targets; to Pursue terrorists and those criminal enterprises that support them; and, to Prepare the citizenry and the city government for consequences associated with terrorist operations against the city. The Bureau is comprised of Metropolitan Divison and Air Support Division. Metropolitan Division The Metropolitan Division (Metro) of the Los Santos Police Department (LSPD) was created in 1933 as a compact, mobile crime-fighting unit that worked throughout the City to suppress criminal activity. Today, the primary responsibility of Metro is to provide support to the Department's community-based policing efforts by deploying additional crime suppression resources throughout the City. Assignments include uniformed crime suppression details, as well as responding to high-risk barricaded situations, stakeouts, security details, warrant service, and assisting investigators in solving major crimes. Air Support Division The Air Support Division (ASD) is tasked with providing Air Support to patrol and specialized units of the Department, to enhances officer and public safety, reduces the incidence of crime and thus reduces the fear of crime. To accomplish this mission ASD provides rapid response, tactical insight and airborne assessments of incidents, in a safe and professional manner. The Administrative Services Bureau (ASB) is responsible for overseeing the Department's records management, recruitment and employment, and in-service training. The Bureau oversees sworn and civilian employees in a wide variety of administrative and support functions in the Department. Recruitment and Employment Division The Recruitment and Employment Division (RED) is responsible for the following functions: Recruit potential candidates and provide guidance; respond to inquiries from candidates that are received by telephone, e-mail or correspondence; mentor candidates as they progress through the selection process and conduct oral interviews. Training Division The mission of the Los Santos Police Department’s (LSPD) Training Division is to provide state-of-the-art, meaningful, realistic, and relevant training to in-service and recruit officers in order to prepare them for field duty. Communications Division Communications Division (CD) serves as a support entity for the entire Los Santos Police Department. Communications Division's Valley and Metropolitan Dispatch Centers are the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the City of Los Santos. As the PSAP, Communications Division has the responsibility to staff and answer, on a 24-hour basis, the telephones upon which calls for service are received. Basic Supervisor School The Los Santos Police Department's Basic Supervisor School provides POST training curriculum to its candidates and allows employees to perform the duties of a field supervisor following successful graduation from the School. Field Training Program The Los Santos Police Department's Field Training Program (FTP) consists of observation and instruction and is intended to facilitate a probationary officer's transition from the academic setting to the performance of general law enforcement uniformed patrol duties. Urban Police Rifle (UPR) School The Los Santos Police Department's Urban Police Rifle (UPR) School provides the knowledge and skills necessary to safely deploy a .556 caliber tactical rifle both in tactical and patrol applications. The UPR School functions as a part of the Training Division. The Office of the Chief of Police directs executive analysis and planning for the current Police Department, as well as prospecting needed adjustment for the future for policing and law enforcement to be maximized and efficient. Chief of Staff The Chief of Staff is responsible for performing and coordinating special administrative audits and assisting, reviewing personnel changes, advising, and submitting recommendations to the Chief of Police, as well as being responsible for reviewing the operations of Command Staff and Supervisors. Professional Standards Group Professional Standards Group (PSG) is committed to identifying misconduct that discredits the organization and decreases police legitimacy within the diverse communities served. Additionally, PSG contains the Department's legal affairs unit. This faction is dedicated to providing quality police role-play to the server. Our team consists of experienced role-players who are dedicated to making this an enjoyable experience for everyone that our faction members encounter. We do not condone play-to-win mentality in our faction. We actively teach newer members of the faction to keep in mind that illegal role-play is one of the most important aspects to the server and are directly affected by our actions as a faction. This results into ensuring that our current faction members, as well as the newer ones keep in mind in situations that they are dealing with actual people who are spending their time on the server and are role-playing a character. We actively ensure that our faction members are there to portray a realistic law enforcement officer in modern America with heavy inspiration taken from the Los Angeles Police Department, that we aim to portray. For any concerns regarding our members, do not hesitate to submit any complaints to our team, where you will receive a reply within 48 hours. In order to ensure that your complaints go to us and are handled within a timely manner, we urge you to submit all complaints in the link above. Do not hesitate to also visit our forums if you wish to join our faction. That being said, we hope to provide you with an enjoyable and realistic police role-play and leave our own mark on the server.

I'm happy to say what I think needs to change to see an improvement in the player base. 1. Removal of "Education over Punishment" Right now there is an expectation that admins educate over punishing. Meaning a player can DM someone 2/3 times before we enter the space of actually being able to issue a light punishment. When I returned to the staff team and saw this, I was shocked! This is why we lost the standards and went from a "Heavy roleplay Server" and entered the realms of being more like a Cops & robbers server which is probably the best way to describe the current state of the community. I have standards, and luckily I have a set of rules which I used to govern. - I don't follow this rule, I never have and quite frankly I never will. I am all up for helping someone understand where they have gone wrong and explain to first time offenders, but if I think (On the balance of probabilities) deliberately broken a rule, you're being punished for it. I owe this standard to the rest of the community that uphold the rules, play fair and want to get on with their roleplay. I know what its like to be roleplaying with your mates, and to have a dumb ass come up to you trying to provoke you to desperately try provoke a reaction to justify pulling a gun and engaging in a shootout. It ruins everything and creates the very situation we're in. (Barely any street level gang roleplay.) 2. Removal of Inactive and Idle Administrators & Testers We have a large amount of inactive and completely Idle Administrators and Testers that are retaining their positions for absolutely no reason. I am all for people having breaks and having real life priorities however a large percentage have been on absence for months on end. And for the Admins I will break that down for you guys to understand in a more granular detail. We have too many Admins in key positions who are Idle holding their areas hostage over the title but don't want to actively work for it. Lead Admins: 7 Of the 7 admins, only 2 (28% activity) have been active in-game. (I acknowledge there's stuff behind the scenes, but your core function is to Lead Administrators, and you can't do that unless you're in-game.) Senior Admins: 11 Of the 11 admins, only 4 (36% activity) have been active in-game. Some haven't logged on in months at all. (One hasn't logged on the forums since October!) Game Admins: 16 Of the 16 admins, only 5 (31% activity) have been active in-game. (To be considered "Active" you must have a minimum of 30 hours spent IG per month. For context, some admins peak at 180 hours a month.) So when you look at the above figures for admins you have 11 active admins providing the community with 24 hours coverage 7 days a week. What this creates is admins becoming burnt out because they're carrying more work loads, people becoming unmotivated as a result of a lack of support, and this results in the figures dropping even more. I dread to think the state of the activity leading up to the new year. These 11 active admins are the same ones processing your player reports, refund requests, house changes, ban appeals and just about everything else on the forums! We're too afraid to loose inactive admins because "What does that fix?" it shows there's a consequence for not being active and pulling your weight, it allows space for development for those who are active to develop further into the admin team. It encourages growth and development for everyone. (Chain effect all the way down which in turn allows us to give a better service to our customers who are our community. 3. Faction Management I will be honest with this point, I do not see Illegal Faction Management as a functional service as it stands. It is not representative of the community, and rather a small circle that operates around it. You have so many voices in the illegal factions world that are experienced, giving the IFM the very solutions to the problems we're facing and instead of gripping onto those solutions and running with them to implement nothing is being done. Or we're shutting them down on the spot. There are Official Factions that went inactive after a week of getting it, remove them and make space the the numerous other factions that are absolute gems within the community. This needs to be done because once the illegal factions give up in their pursuit you'll have PD pursuing SD until one of the two decide to give up. Urgent and drastic leadership changes are needed in order to preserve the future of the illegal scene. I personally have been so put off from continuing my illegal roleplay knowing it will never lead anywhere. 4. Legal Faction Management One of the most catastrophic mistakes was the decision to move LFM from a full time person and move it under operations with no oversight from an experienced LEO role-player. Why a LEO role-player? The two biggest legal factions are PD and SD, and a great deal surrounds the two. Instead the role was merged across the responsibility of two people, one being the head of Illegal Factions - a clear conflict of interest. There is a huge issue with activity around the leadership of many of these legal factions and I have seen in the recent days a series of poor decisions being made about leadership changes. Faction Leaders need to be active in order to drive the faction, maintain and uphold standards and again provide the player base with a level of service! - Some days the server has 100+ players with 1 or 2 LEO's on, where is the realism in that? You then speak to the factions, and the response is, If faction management can't be asked why should I? Then you get nothing short of civil war on the server. Legal and Illegal factions are the most important entities on this server, and we're getting it so incredibly wrong. In both PD and SD we have absolutely exceptional leaders who aren't being given opportunities to lead simply because they're vocal and active and threaten the inactive leadership by outshining them, so instead of promoting them to run and help out, we're seeing them be supressed and ostracised to keep them at bay in order to safeguard certain individuals positions. Legal Faction Management needs to be owned by a Lead Admin that has experience in either PD or SD as a leader that can give them the full time attention they need, this doesn't mean dictating, this means obtaining feed back from the faction members, giving and equipping them to succeed. Right now we're seeing the polar opposite. 5. Pandering to the toxic few. There's a certain few individuals who keep popping up within these chats (Ban Evading) may I add who offer nothing of any value at all, and we're allowing their opinions and voices to plague and curtain the true issues we need to be addressing on this community. Some of these who I won't bother naming have been banned for a while for gross breaches of rules in-game and on the forums. Stop pandering to them and ignore their moot opinions. Finally my message to the community, a shit ton of effort goes into this community by Martin and Michael (prior to his departure) and I stand firmly beside Martin with this. He often is called lazy and that he doesn't care or he's not invested and simply wants money out of this etc etc...I've heard it all. I will defend him till kingdom come. I know how much he invests and how much he injects into this community to keep it running and he is let down by some of his staff, but also a community have a significant part to play here as well. Stop the toxicity, accept it will never be like 2015 or whatever era exists as being the golden age for LSRP for you, we're in 2024 going on 2025 and we're pushing through during different and challenging times around the world. For many this is a get-away from reality. Acknowledge the effort going into the community, appreciate the little things and be constructive and productive about the future of the community. Remember, pressing the red button and switching the community off once more is an easy option - we need to keep fingers away from that and start collectively driving this forward. If anyone has been offended (Staff or otherwise) by anything I have said, tough luck if the shoe fits lace that bitch up and own it. I own my flaws, and I will work on them but I will never give up on this community. Eren.

The Los Santos County Sheriff's Department is a law enforcement faction that focuses on providing enjoyable and realistic police role play. The faction is primarily based upon and draws inspiration from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. LSSD — Index Page Employment Service Center Patrol Car Ride-Along Requests LOS SANTOS COUNTY SHERIFF KENNETH LAROSA On the 1st of February, Kenneth Larosa, a 25 year veteran of the Department was promoted to Commander of the Administration Services Division. Larosa got his Criminal Justice degree at the San Diego State University where he would later move to Los Santos. His career began in 1995, where he become a Deputy Sheriff. For the most part of his career, he would stay at the Davis Sheriff's Station, where he would rise to the rank of Sergeant, becoming Watch Commander certified. For a change in career paths, Larosa would then be assigned as Operations Lieutenant for the Basic Sergeant Supervisory School in 2011. Initially in 2016, Kenneth Larosa was promoted to Captain, Coordinator of the Basic Sergeant Supervisory School. In July 2020, he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Sheriff and oversaw a majority of the Department, with a primary focus on the Administration Services section of the Department, as well as serving as the Chief of Staff. In August 2021, Kenneth Larosa became the 20th Sheriff of the Los Santos County. ASSISTANT SHERIFF Roderick Hayward Executive Office of Patrol and Detective Operations DIVISION CHIEF Edward Kennith Executive Office of Administrative Services Division Administrative Services Division The Administrative Services Division is comprised of Sheriff's Information Bureau, Training Bureau, Field Training Program and Basic Sergeant Supervisor School. The Administrative Services Division is responsible for providing administrative staff services to the Department Executives and to evaluate and refine policy and procedures through the inspection and training processes. It is also charged with identifying and mitigating areas of actual or potential Department Liability arising during the course of the Department's daily activities. The Training Bureau The Training Bureau is responsible for the entire recruitment process of the Los Santos County Sheriff's Department. The Training Bureau aims to provide the Los Santos County Sheriff's Department with the best suited and qualified deputy sheriffs by testing, assessing, and thoroughly evaluating each possible deputy sheriff candidate. The Training Bureau consists of three units; The Background Investigations Unit, the Recruit Training Unit, and the Weapons Training Unit. The Sheriff's Information Bureau The primary function of this Bureau is to maintain the Department's Operations Log and disseminate information and news to the general public, members of the Department and the news media. The Bureau is also responsible for evaluating proposed Department public relations programs. The Bureau responsibilities are performed through the operation of a 24-hour command information center, by program evaluation and development, by continuing liaison with the press and the community and by responding to telephonic and written inquiries. The Communications & Fleet Management Bureau The Communications & Fleet Management Bureau houses the Department's vast communication assets as well as fleet maintenance. The Sheriff's Communications Center, which operates out of The Big Ear, provides units with dispatch functions. The Facilities Planning Bureau The Facilities Planning Bureau houses all future plans for the Los Santos County Sheriff's Department facilities, including the upgrading of facilities, compliance with the San Andreas Fire Code across all facilities and the implementation of new facilities and stations. The Field Training Program The Field Training Program is responsible for the introduction of a newly assigned officer to the personnel, procedures, policies, and purposes of the individual law enforcement department. The Field Training Program provides the initial formal and informal training specific to the department and the day-to-day duties of its officers and it makes the new officers' field training as effective as possible by assigning them to multiple Field Training Officers (FTOs). The Basic Sergeant Supervisor School The Basic Sergeant Supervisor School is responsible for the training of Assistant Field Sergeants, traditional education and lecture on the fundamentals of police supervision, field-based mentoring and evaluation, providing hands-on experience to solidify the material taught; and education, training, and evaluation of all new Sergeants in the Department. Central Patrol Division This Division is responsible for the performance of the basic police tasks of protecting life and property, preserving the peace, preventing and suppressing crime, and the apprehension of violators of the law. The Central Patrol Division is responsible for the operation of the following Stations: 1) Davis Sheriff's Station & 2) The Paleto Bay's Sheriff's Station The Davis Sheriff's Station The Davis Sheriff's Station services the following areas: 1) Davis, 2) East Los Santos, 3) Vespucci, 3) Downtown, 4) La Puerta and 5) Little Seoul. The Paleto Bay Sheriff's Station The Paleto Bay's Sheriff's Station services the following areas: 1) Paleto Bay, 2) Grapeseed, 3) Zancudo, 4) Sandy Shores, 5) Harmony, 6.) Los Santos City Central. Detective Division The Detective Division's mission is to support the overall mission of the Sheriff’s Department by providing the highest quality criminal investigative services on a countywide basis. The Major Crimes Bureau This bureau is comprised of the following details: 1) Homicide Detail and 2) Metro Detail along with a task force called: Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention. This bureau investigates the following: Cases investigated by this Bureau involve: 1) accidental deaths, 2) homicides, 3) natural deaths (Coroner cases), 4) suicides, 5) missing juveniles when there is suspicion of foul play; or missing over 30 days, 6) missing and unidentified persons (adults), 7) shootings involving Department personnel that result in injury or death, 8.) assaults against on-duty Department personnel that result in life-threatening or serious injury and 9) found human remains. The Operation Safe Streets Bureau This bureau is comprised of the following details: 1) Gang Enforcement Team (GET) and 2) Operation Safe Street Detail (OSS). The responsibilities for the Gang Enforcement Team (GET) include (but not limited to): 1) Provide uniformed personnel to work directed patrol in the most active or violent target gang areas, 2) Gather, disseminate, and exchange information about street gangs and their association with Operation Safe Street Detail (OSS) and 3) Participate and prepare presentations for civic groups about street gangs and their activities. The responsibilities for Operation Safe Street Detail (OSS) include (but not limited to): 1) Investigate high-grade felonies of targeted gangs, 2) Gather, coordinate, and disseminate information concerning gangs and their related criminal activities and 3) Maintain liaison with various local, state, and federal agencies concerning street gangs Professional Standards Division The Professional Standards Division's mission is to provide and maintain professional standards among departmental staff and to analyze, prevent and resolve any abuse committed on duty or any complaint made on behalf of a Deputy Sheriff. The Internal Affairs Bureau The Internal Affairs Bureau is responsible for: 1) Conducting administrative investigations of policy violations by Department members, 2) Conducting administrative investigations of policy of equality violations by Department members, 3) Conducting administrative investigations for outside law enforcement agencies at the request of the agency, 4) Monitoring criminal investigations of Department members, 5) Responding to deputy-involved shootings and specific significant use of force incidents, and preparing an administrative review of the incident for the Executive Force Review Committee, 6) Conducting “for cause” drug tests at the direction of a Department member’s unit commander or higher ranking member and 7) Compiling data for all shootings involving Department personnel (e.g., hit, non-hit, unintentional discharge, warning shot, and animal shootings). The Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau This Bureau reports to the Sheriff and Undersheriff and is responsible for the investigation of allegations of criminal misconduct by members of this Department when the offense is committed within the policing jurisdiction of the Sheriff. The Advocacy Bureau The Advocacy Bureau is the legal advisor to Department Executives and Management. They oversee legal issues and provide legal advisement to multiple executive & investigative entities. Special Operations Division The Special Operations Division is comprised of the Special Enforcement Bureau and the Aero Bureau. The Special Operations Division provides support to all units within the Department and mutual aid assistance to outside agencies via its various bureaus and details, including Air Support for pursuits or rescue operations, as well as a tactical response to high-risk situations. The Special Enforcement Bureau Special Enforcement Detail SED is the 48-person, full-time, special weapons team tasked with high-risk warrant service, barricaded suspect resolution, hostage rescue, dignitary protection and maritime operations. SED on average handles 220 to 260 tactical operations per year for the department’s 42 contract cities, unincorporated county areas and mutual aid requests from other agencies. Additionally, SED conducts training for other LSSD members, personnel from a wide array of outside law enforcement agencies and military personnel. When not actively deployed on a tactical operation, SED members continuously train on a variety of core SWAT skills that include maritime interdiction and tactical explosive breaching. Emergency Services Detail Initially conceived as a full-time search and rescue unit, the Emergency Services Detail (ESD) quickly morphed into one of the most unique assignments within law enforcement. ESD members were the first in the country to achieve certified paramedic rating for fulltime law enforcement officers, and that practice continues today to include ESD supervisors. ESD personnel provide Tactical Emergency Medical Support to SEB Special Weapons Teams and to outside agencies upon request. Additionally, they conduct mountain searchand-rescue operations, underwater search and recovery, and swift water rescue operations for the Sheriff’s Department. ESD paramedics and crew chiefs staff the department’s Air Rescue 5 Super Puma helicopters. The ESD members on AIR-5 can provide rapid deployment of tactically trained and equipped personnel to active shooter/hostile events and other emergency incidents throughout Los Santos County and beyond. The ability to traverse the highly congested 4,000-square-mile county of Los Santos through the air provides a tactical response that would otherwise be significantly delayed by ground transport. Canine Services Detail In 1980, the Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department began a pilot program with police service dogs. Since that time, Canine Service Detail members and their partners have developed and proved invaluable in not only providing assistance on high-risk searches for patrol operations but also as completely integrated members on the Special Weapons Team. CSD members complete approximately 400 searches per year and respond to all Special Weapons Team activations. All CSD K9s are single purpose apprehension dogs with one exception. CSD has the only tactically certified bloodhound program in California. The tactical bloodhound program allows for the search for high-risk suspects who may have escaped containment and are deemed too dangerous for a normal bloodhound team. CSD hosts a 30-hour Canine/ SWAT integration course twice a year. Participants come from a multitude of law enforcement agencies and U.S. military units. CSD teams are capable of rapid response with other SEB details during active shooter or other emergency scenarios and possess the ability to fast rope and/or rappel with their K9 partners. The Aero Bureau The Aero Bureau performs aerial support services using various types of aircraft and is responsible for: 1) investigating violations of regulations governing flight of aircraft and prosecuting offenders, 2) investigating all fatal or serious aircraft accidents, 3) granting permission to land aircraft on, performing maintenance on, and continuing the certification of all helipads under the control of the Department and 4) providing airplanes and/or helicopters and flight crews. Custody Services Division Custody Operations consists of three custody services divisions: General Population, Specialized Programs, and Administration Command. Each division has distinct areas of responsibility. These divisions are responsible for the operation of the Department’s jail system and for the care, custody, security, and rehabilitation of all sentenced and pretrial inmates housed within the Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department’s jail facilities.

A quartered shield bearing the stars and stripes, a five cornered star and a grizzly bear - a tribute to the short-lived San Andreas Republic. A golden eagle like the kind depicted on the 19th century Mexican Coat of Arms, standing on a cactus while holding a rattlesnake in its beak, the old Alta City Hall and a lion rampant. The Los Santos City Government is one of the largest municipal organizations within the United States, and the largest in San Andreas, providing services to over three million constituents who reside both in the City of Los Santos and the County of Los Santos following a decision in 1992 to consolidate both the City and County of Los Santos into one large entity. The municipal organization is led by a City-County Mayor, who oversees all operations of the government and is responsible for the delivery and accessibility of services. Los Santos is home to people from all walks of life, of all cultures and backgrounds, located on the southern part of San Andreas. What started as a colonial settlement in 1781 under the Spanish Empire, saw rapid expansion ever since its establishment and quickly turned into a major colonial hub. While not much is known about the city during the Spanish rule, it is known that the territory was later on taken over by Mexico in the 1800s, and then rebelled under the short-lived San Andreas Republic in 1846 over land-purchasing rights. At the beginning of the revolt, flags bearing a five cornered star and a grizzly bear were raised by the mutineer soldiers, replacing the Mexican ones. On July 5, 1846 - the United States flag was raised throughout government buildings and militia bases, marking the end of the Republic and the annexation of the land by the United States. --------------------------------------------------------------- TIMOTHY KNIGHT MAYOR Welcome to Los Santos, It is my pleasure to present you with a warm welcome to Los Santos, our little pearl in the West Coast. Los Santos is home to innovation, progress and discovery - where people come from everywhere and everyone are welcome. A sprawling metropolis, Los Santos is one of the busiest regions in all of San Andreas and even the United States, with an active nightlife scene, products and stores from all over the world, there's always something to see in our city. I invite you to tour the city, visit the landmarks and most importantly - enjoy your stay. Welcome once again, Timothy Knight Mayor of Los Santos --------------------------------------------------------------- The Office of Finance is responsible for the financial health of Los Santos, providing business owners, entrepreneurs and visionaries with the tools needed to thrive. It is responsible for the collection of all money deposited in the City Treasury, from taxes to certain city-imposed fees. The Department of Health works to protect the health and well-being of the residents of the city of Los Santos and surrounding incorporated areas, it's main objective is to push public health initiatives and policies in accordance with current state law, support the growing health infrastructure of the city of Los Santos both public and private. The Bureau of Licensing is responsible for the processing of liquor and entertainment licensing and continuous review of those licensed premises across Los Santos. The Los Santos Department of Public Works and Transportation is what keeps the city moving, the workers who keep the city dynamic and ever-changing. The Department is separated into several sections, each having their own responsibilities - the Department of Public Works handles public infrastructure development and maintenance, as well as power and water grids. The Department of Transportation is responsible for making sure the city stays mobile by providing public transit services with the highest quality standards. The Bureau of Parking Management makes sure that appropriate parking etiquette and laws are followed, as well as assists with traffic control where needed. The Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) serves thousands of vulnerable people each year, improving their quality of life via the administration of local welfare programs. Such programs aim to assist and empower disadvantaged individuals and families within the greater Los Santos area to achieve their maximum potential; housing, employment, and financial assistance, to name a few. The Department consistently works towards the economic and social development of all, operating under the values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of a person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner (DMEC) is responsible for conducting inquiry into the circumstances, manner, and cause of deaths which fall within its jurisdiction. These inquiries predominantly surround deaths which appear homicidal, suicidal, violent, or accidental; this remit also includes deaths where an appropriate physician is not available to certify death. Inquiries make use of state of the art technology and methods, along with examination of their medical records, behavior, and much more. The DMEC also plays a role by, on request of the Public Health Department, examining deaths which may be related to wider public health risks. The Port of Los Santos is the nation's leading gateway for international trade and has ranked the number one container port in the United States. It is a self-supporting department of the City of Los Santos, also known as the Los Santos Harbor Commission, and is governed by the Los Santos Board of Harbor Commission, a panel appointed by the Mayor of Los Santos. The Port of Los Santos is committed to proper oversight and management of all port activities, with an outstanding team of executives appointed to propel the organization's vision and strategy forward. The Port of Los Santos is a major center of employment. Most workers within terminals are members of various labor unions. CURRENTLY HIRING FOR VARIOUS FACTION POSITIONS: CAREER OPPORTUNITIES LSGOV DISCORD || LSGOV FORUMS

Eastside Hustler Crip (EHC) is a predominantly african-american street gang with it's roots going back as far as the 1980s. The gang has a long and rich history that revolves around gang violence and wrong doings, with the majority of members following a common theme of the desire for power, respect, women, money and protection. Gangs that fall under the Hustler Crips are loosely connected and are not necessary allies of each other. The term "street gang" is commonly used interchangeably with "youth gang", referring to neighborhood or street-based youth groups that meet "gang" criteria. Currently the gang has an active membership consisting of around twenty to thirty members. The gang operates around Jefferson, a district slightly to the northeast of the city center of Los Santos, San Andreas. North of Jefferson is Las Colinas, while to the south are Idlewood and Ganton. West of Jefferson is Glen Park, while to the east is East Los Santos. It's turf starts from Crenshaw Boulevard and stretches all the way over to Washington. The area has prominent gang activity and is a low-income district with a high crime rate. The gang is divided into three separate cliques: Crenshaw Hustler Crips (30s), Slauson Hustler Crips/Cardinal Hustler Crips (60s) and Washington Hustler Crips/Rowdy Hustler Crips (80s). In previous years there has been a noticeable downfall in the gang's membership, with the 60s Cardinal Hustler Crip sub-set being considered defunct for a period of time. Lately however the sub-clique and the overall function has seen an up-tick in new members joining, especially youth that seem to be driven by a promise of power and/or protection from other gangs. The Hustler Crips operate independently, which means each Hustler Crip set carry their own allies and Rivals. Eastside Hustler Crip doesn't fall under trays or deuce, they operate independently due to previous beef with both Gangster & Neighborhood Crip sets & also the majority of Mafia Crip sets as well. The Eastside Hustler Crip are rivals of 99 Mafia Crip, Florencia 13, Lennox 13, South Side 13, Bounty Hunter Bloods, Palm Tree Piru, 54 Van Ness Gangster Brim, 83 Gangster Crips, Kelly Park Hustler Crips, with Florence 13 being the longest running rivalry being directly responsible for the increased gang-related crimes around Jefferson. Police has an increased presence around Jefferson, making an effort to combat gang-related murders, shootings, and general violence related to gang activity.

El Corona has always been a stronghold for illicit activity, even during the First World War the area was known for not only its roughness but had a reputation for its high poverty rate although residents knew nothing of what was becoming of the neighborhood before the early 1920s. Residents of El Corona became more and more engrossed in ways that friends would come together and defend the area from gangs that were popping up at the time, gangs that included Big Hazard and White Fence but despite these events, the famous Zoot Suit Riots of the 1940s are what shone light on the 38th Street Gang in a way that would change the course of the gangs actions and reputation within Los Santos forever. The Sleepy Lagoon Murder consisted of multiple teenage 38th Street gang members brutally murdering a young boy by the name of Jose Diaz at a water reservoir which was often visited by gang members. 600 Mexican teenagers all over Los Santos were hauled up by LSPD for the heinous crime although eventually 22 members of the 38th Street Gang including some female affiliates were tried and the event would lead to the single largest mass trial on record in San Andreas. From 1999 up until around mid 2019, the 38th Street Gangs impact on the southern side of the city was devastating to not only the local residents but to law enforcement alike as new cliques flagging the neighborhood started popping up within the immediate area. The tiny locotes (TLS) were among the first clickas to originate out of the gang all the way back in the 1920s, now in current times there are over 12 different clickas across three different states all flagging for the same cause. In Los Santos, the 38th Street gang holds 6 sets; Tiny Locotes (TLS), Gardenas Locos (GLS), Krazy Katz (KZK), Tiny Winos (TWS), Pee Wee Gangsters (PWGS) & Tiny Diablas (TDS), each set with their own reputations and input on the lives they live. In 2019 a rival gang; Bounty Hunter Bloods (BHB) took their chances and sparked a war which would end up making national news with a body count of over 30 people over the course of a year, Oscar "Blueboy" Huerta along with other original new generation 38th Streeters at the time including Antonio "Shaggy" Merino, Andres "Casper" Artego, Joshua "Bugs" Pena, Owen "Stomper" Nereyo and the famous Dennis "Creeper" Grajeda engaged deep in the war between the two gangs, often plotting on ways to score points and cleanse the 38th Street flats of blacks. After a long and bloody war between two gangs that lasted almost two years, the 38th Streeters eventually managed to push back and take the flats with force which resulted in a mass shootout within the 38th Street car lot. After taking back control of the flats, another spark ignited only this time it was directed from the Eastside Hustler Crips (EHC). During this time of conflict, the 38th Street Gang were also up against a gang injunction order which made them prone to constant stop and searches and the avoidance of their friends due to the court order; making attacks on rival gangs 10 times as hard.

I think currently GTAW finds itself in the shoes LSRP were once in. By that I mean that they have a monopoly over the genre simply because there is no alternative, similarly to our community on SA:MP. Players stuck around because there was nowhere else to go. On GTAW what you've got is a server and community tailored around legal roleplayers, ran by legal roleplayers and heavily influenced by legal roleplayers. One sticking point that comes up time and time again is their IFM's lack of engagement, transparency and knowledge and this is the driving force behind the bulk of our roleplayers leaving their server. Now, a lot of people use this a basis to promote their roleplay but the fact of the matter is that it's the truth, their lack of regard for their illegal community is what will offer LSRP a way in. Over the course of the last few months it's been more evident than ever and their management's obliviousness to the fact is what adds insult to injury. For this server to hit the ground running what you have to do is capitalize on the shortcomings of the aforementioned server and strike while the iron's hot. Transparency will be a key factor in attracting these players. Deliverance will be what keeps them and the expectations and promises need to be fulfilled in order for this to come to fruition at all. Illegal roleplay shouldn't be prioritized by any means but it should be treated with the same amount of respect as legal roleplay and given the same opportunity of prosperity. Illegal roleplay has always been the foundation of LSRP but what made LSRP so consistent was its honesty, its openness and its lucidity. Transparency was always there one way or another. One look at their faction's forum and you realize that their faction management team are driving people into LSRP's arms and for years it's gone unnoticed and unaddressed because their has been no alternative. You can forget about servers like LCRP making a wave because they're not battled tested like LSRP is and don't have the following LSRP do, coupled with the fact that their management are as corrupt as the day is long. All these make-shift beliefs and idealisms are used to lure people in but it's nothing more than a false pretense and a power grab. In other words, in certain communities if you don't agree with somebody's modus operandi, they will find a way to ban you, silence you or misinterpret you. On LSRP I believe that the number one priority should be to put the power in the player's hands. For this to overtake its competitors and scratch the surface it's got to recognize the flaws of communities that don't work. LSRP is genuinely the last hope for those interested in illegal roleplay. We need to do as much as we can to emphasize that and promote the fact that the community and management are receptive to that or we're back to square one. It's in all of our interests if we're on the same wave length. All old community politics should be disregarded and the slate should be wiped clean. This will only work if we're all on the same page. Make LSRP great again.

This was originally intended as a response to gyzo's "Can we bring back the old playerbase count?" topic but after I completed the post I felt it was worthy of its own topic. A VISION FOR THE FUTURE: Achieving peak LSRP activity numbers is probably an unrealistic goal given the landscape of the RP scene nowadays, but I do believe there are steps that can be taken to maintain and build upon the current player base. There have been plenty of solid ideas here and elsewhere on the forums that can help bring about positive change in different aspects of LSRP, but my post is going to be focused on the big picture and what all of us can do—players and admins alike—to help LSRP reach its true potential. To touch briefly on why I personally returned to LSRP: it was for Valenti much more so than it was for LSRP or SAMP. In the past, I have publicly voiced my displeasure with LSRP staff. I was very skeptical of the LSRP comeback and thought it was simply a last-ditch marketing gimmick for the GTAV server; I didn’t think it would be successful and had no interest in rejoining until countless Valenti members reached out urging me to reopen the faction. I went through with it and I’m glad I did because the server has exceeded our expectations so far and has allowed us to make a serious comeback as a faction. Upon our return with how accommodating the staff was setting us up with official status and swiftly handling requests, it was the first time since I joined Valenti in 2011 that I felt we were finally getting the respect we deserve as the longest-standing and most renowned faction on the server. Unfortunately, with lengthy delays and several questionable rulings against us recently, this feeling has dissipated to a degree, but I am still of the belief that the staff team is doing a better job than they have in most previous eras. Regardless of player count, LSRP still has major potential and I believe we can make this final era something special if we all work together. CULTURE SHIFT With that said, everyone needs to remember that the admins are volunteers and we need to adjust our expectations accordingly. The admin team makes LSRP possible and we need to be grateful for that. We need to squash this “us vs. them” mentality that drives a wedge between the players and admins, and we all need to start pulling the rope in the same direction. A clear vision for the future needs to be outlined and at the center of that needs to be a cultural shift that brings the community together as one team working towards the common goal of making the best role-play experience possible. LSRP having a smaller player base doesn’t mean the community doesn’t have room to grow and it isn’t something we should dwell on; instead, we need to look at this as a prime opportunity to build the foundation upon which the new era of LSRP can be built. The success of this server has always been a team effort and that will need to be even more pronounced this time around to ensure we have a community that is sustainable and has room to grow. FACTION SCENE The faction scene and the great factions in particular have always been the main driver of LSRP’s success. We are currently in a good spot with several long-standing official factions and some solid new factions on the come-up. This kind of continuity of characters and factions is key to creating an immersive, realistic, cohesive, and sustainable role-play environment. To maintain and improve upon the current state of the faction scene, everyone needs to play their part. To build strong, quality factions, people need to consider joining the existing factions instead of creating new ones. Only those who are experienced and qualified should be making new factions with the intent of filling a gap in the current faction scene, but we need to be cautious not to oversaturate certain genres. Faction leaders need to create factions with purpose and meaning, the average player needs to stay IC and focus on the realistic development of their character, and the admins need to incentivize, reward, and help facilitate quality role-play. The standard for achieving official status needs to remain high and admins shouldn’t feel pressured to lower the bar in order to appease to players out of desperation. High standards for official factions ensures a healthy faction scene and lowering the bar will create for weaker, unsustainable factions, as has been seen in the past. Unofficial factions now have plenty of schemes they can apply for and it’s certainly a good thing to reward good performance and give people the tools they need to role-play, but only the best faction(s) in each genre should represent LSRP as an official faction. On the other hand, toxic factions need to be disciplined, and if improvement isn’t seen in quick order, they need to be shut down. LSRP has been doing a good job with this as of late and I have seen the benefits first-hand in the LCN scene. The description of a long-time official crime family that was notorious for rule breaking and subpar role-play early on in the LSRP comeback set the tone. That faction in particular has since improved and are making positive contributions to the role-play. The recent shutdown of another toxic LCN faction was another step in the right direction. The LCN scene is experiencing one of its better eras right now and that is in large part thanks to LSRP bringing the hammer down on these problematic factions. In order to optimize the faction scene, I would like to suggest a revamp of the Faction Team structure as seen below: Head of Factions and/or Faction Team Council Official faction leaders (1 from each official faction) The most qualified admins and players with ample faction experience Testers/admins who serve the purpose of handling requests in a timely fashion The most notable change is the involvement of the official faction leaders. When LSRP was in its heyday and on an upward trajectory, there wasn’t a massive Faction Team; there was a Head of Factions who consulted the official faction leaders, which worked quite well at the time. The official faction leaders are a highly knowledgeable group and can bring great value to the Faction Team’s decision-making process. Additionally, this ensures all official factions are represented equally in the faction team and limits the potential for corruption. The Faction Team needs to consist of a healthy balance of players experienced in all the major genres. Many players (myself included) have grown increasingly frustrated with their suggestions falling on deaf ears over the years and, as such, don’t speak up like they used to and have no desire to seek out staff positions. LSRP acknowledging this and going out of their way to recruit the most suitable candidates for the Faction Team (and other staff divisions) would go a long way. ROLE-PLAY MINDSET Everyone needs to adopt the mindset of focusing on the realistic development of their characters. Stay in the moment and embrace every scene. The play-to-win mindset, trigger happiness and seeking quick thrills is not the best way to go about role-playing and it drags the server down. LSRP is marketed as a heavy role-play server and we need to back this up. Below I have linked two threads from the old forums related to this topic: (39) [Tutorial] A case for RPing realistically - Los Santos Roleplay (39) Realism + Character Development = Fun = Success - Los Santos Roleplay MARKETING Other posters have already outlined different approaches that can be taken to market the server and I am in agreement that this needs to be a major focus for staff. Aside from this, word of mouth will go a long way in bringing old players back to the server, but we all need to do our part to make the best role-play environment possible in order to lure people back. While I am of the opinion that the staff team has improved, there is still a stigma weighing them down and they need to continue making positive steps to repair their reputation for some players to ever consider a return. The admins also need to recognize the value many of the long-standing official factions bring from a marketing standpoint. Countless players have come through these factions and people who are otherwise disgruntled with LSRP staff can potentially be lured back by the prospect of rejoining their old faction and continuing their character’s story. Remove the red tape and let these historic factions thrive. PLAYER RETENTION Marketing is useless if we can’t retain the players we bring in. Having a strong faction scene will go a long way in attracting and retaining players. On top of this, the community needs to be welcoming and the game needs to be as user-friendly as possible. LSRP does a good job of allowing players to have creative freedom, but there are still plenty of instances of the admin team being overbearing on people’s creativity. Remove unnecessary restrictions and applications; allow players to craft their characters as they see fit within reason. Factions and players who have made mass contributions to the server over the years should especially be given the benefit of the doubt and more leeway. As others have stated, having the current script-based jobs as the main moneymakers for new players won’t cut it. The government needs to have funding available for companies so that money can be earned through actual role-play as opposed to mindlessly farming scripted jobs. I suggest the introduction of a new staff division or a “buddy system” of sorts committed to helping new players learn the ropes not only in regards to the game itself but also how to role-play realistically and develop a character. We need to focus on retaining players who are here to role-play and develop a realistic character. It’s usually quite easy to decipher between someone who is here to role-play and someone who is not. Discipline and ban rulebreakers/toxic players who only serve to disrupt the experience of real role-players; LSRP being lenient with these types of players out of desperation to keep the player count up is counterproductive. Additionally, LSRP needs to be cautious with how much time they put into the GTAV server. I’m not sure if this explains the recent increase in wait times, but the increased focus on GTAV certainly had a damning effect on the SAMP server last time around and history tends to repeat itself. GTAV is covered, but there is clearly still an appetite for SAMP and thankfully LSRP has filled that void for now. Most of us are here because we aren’t interested in GTAV. The SAMP server, in my opinion, should be the top priority; don’t take it for granted. TL;DR Role-play is a collaborative game and people need to stop being so selfish. Take responsibility yourself, regardless of your role on the server, and think about how you can positively contribute to the community. Focus on role-playing and developing your character realistically. We need to come together as one team to create the best role-play experience possible for the success of LSRP going forward.

Was asked to put my 2 cents in, so here goes. If you know me, you’ll know that my dedication to LSRP since relaunch (and for the last 14 years really) has been pretty strong. This changed in August this year. I was consistently doing the most in game reports, the most refund requests, the most insert menial task here, etcetera, all while leading a sub team and doing general admin shit on the side. My demotivation and burnout slowly started to set in because of a few things, I’m not going to name any names but if you know, you know. I don’t want this to be a bashing post, just a post from the heart. Bear in mind I’ve not touched LSRP really since August at this point. I’m going to say a majority of the admin team done absolutely fuck all to support others who actually cared about the community, whether this be in game reports or whatever. There was lead admins in game who would make a mockery of player reports in /a instead of actually dealing with them whilst I’m trying to deal with 2 reports and a refund at the same time, just to try and restore some faith in the team that were not lazy bastards and reports do get handled. My report statistics confirm this. I slowly got sick of this. Actually no, I quickly got sick of it. The knock on effect there is that why should I be bursting my balls while these guys sit in the same or higher positions than me whilst not giving a singular fuck, or abusing their positions to win RP situations and break rules and hack (I’m looking at you Xanakin, happy to name him as this is historic at this point) I then decided ok I’ll try help out in other ways. I joined the dev team and began writing and modifying scripts, ONLY based off of player suggestions. In my mind, doing what the players WANT was the right thing to do (within reason). The first “big feature” I worked on was company system enhancements, primarily company chat. I had most of the scripting done to then be let down like a Japanese pilot in the 40’s. I was simply told “nah FTC said no” this booked my piss and I argued and argued for it until they were basically told it’s happening whether you like it or not. This of course put a sour taste in my mouth too. The final straw for me which started my extensive absence was a result of a staff report, made against me by a lead admin at the time who didn’t like me because I publicly shamed him for his laziness every chance I could get. I got on one night after a few drinks and dealt with an admin sit (because would you look at that, the reporter didn’t bother to accept the report). Resolved the report pretty simply, all was good. The player who was reported was logging off and messing around so I chugged his ass into the dirt, revived him, refunded his weapon and that was that. No harm done, just a bit of fun! I find out the next day that I was going to be removed from the staff team for this ONE incident, despite me being the most active contributor (statistically) to the community at the time. This really set me off and I don’t think I’ve logged in to this day. I’ve really been trying to regain my spark for it but whenever I open up the SAMP client I take a totally legally acquired Xanax because I just can’t face it right now. The players for the most part are cool as fuck and you know who you are, but some of you are absolutely insufferable and I think you need a reality check. as those who have resigned have said, nothing is ever good enough. We could script the cure for cancer and someone would complain “but what about cerebral palsy?!” just my two cents, or dollars. Rambled on a bit here but here’s where I’m at right now. This isn’t a resignation, but just an explanation for my absence. I do love this place, but shit has to change and I’m not just talking about staff/management. I really do want this place to succeed man. Get a grip, everyone.

Los Santos Fire Department The Los Santos Fire Department preserves life and property, promotes public safety and fosters economic growth through a commitment to prevention, preparedness, response and recovery as an all risk life safety response provider. We provide exceptional Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services by being metric driven, technologically sophisticated and community focused while reflecting the people we serve. Our motto, “Serving with Courage, Integrity, and Pride”, emphasizes our department's core values, and is what leads each and every single one of our employees in their day-to-day duties, so that our community can be safe and protected around the clock. (( It is the OOC goal for the LSFD to provide high-quality fire and ems roleplay at all times. )) Chief Fire Officers Fire Chief Kaitlyn Myers Office of the Fire Chief Deputy Chief Eric Casey Bureau Commander, Emergency Services Bureau Assistant Chief Axel Thorne Bureau Commander, Administrative Services Bureau Bureau Commander, Operations Bureau Assistant Chief Mark Yeager Commanding Officer, Professional Standards Division Fire Officers Battalion Chief Roger Mayweather Battalion Chief, Fire Station 11, Operations Bureau Battalion Chief Timothy McQuillan Bureau Commander, Training and Support Bureau Captain II Alice Winter Station Captain, Fire Station 11, Operations Bureau Captain I George Adams Unit Commander, Air Operations Unit Captain I Maxine Hayes Unit Commander, Tactical Emergency Medical Support Unit Organizational Structure The Los Santos Fire Department is divided into separate sections, each termed 'Operations'. Within each Operation are various Bureaus that house divisions relevant to their specific functions. This organization structure is designed to better delegate the department's resources, so that every aspect is covered thoroughly and efficiently. The Administration Bureau is directly responsible for handling all matters revolving around department personnel. Discussions relating to positional advancement, disciplinary action, and relations with the public all happen within this bureau and its subsequent divisions. The Training and Support Bureau is responsible for the department's recruitment drives, training and certifying prospective employees, and training current department personnel so they are always prepared for their day-to-day duties. The Emergency Services Bureau oversees the prehospital care provided by firefighter/EMTs and firefighter/paramedics, who respond to medical calls and transport patients to area hospitals each day. The Operations Bureau is responsible for maintaining all relevant Fire Stations, as well as deploying specialized rescue and firefighting tactics. (( It should be noted this list only represents divisions where players actively roleplay. Realistically, the entire LAFD structure that we have used as a base would exist within the LSFD, but we cannot portray the entirety of that structure with the number of players involved. )) Administration Bureau: Professional Standards Division Human Resources Division Employee Relations Division Training and Support Bureau: Firefighter Recruitment Section Recruit Services Section In-Service Training Section Emergency Services Bureau: Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) Unit Air Operations Unit Paramedic Training Unit Operations Bureau: Fire Station 7 Fire Station 11 Urban Search and Rescue (( The current list of Bureaus and Divisions represent what we as a Faction roleplay around, though some may not be implemented during the beginning of the RageMP server to allow us to focus on the Faction's basic structure. This is subject to change at the discretion of Faction Leadership. )) Ranking Structure Chief Fire Officers Fire Chief The Fire Chief is considered the General Manager of the department, and is responsible for overseeing development and overall operation. The main duties of the Fire Chief include: serving as the figurehead of the department at media and general events; managing the department's personnel up to Deputy Chief in accordance with department policy and public service regulations; and the development and oversight of department policy, procedures, and expectations. Deputy Chief The Deputy Chief is considered the Assistant General Manager of the department, mostly responsible for assisting the Fire Chief with the administration of the department. The main duties of the Fire Deputy Chief include: assisting the Fire Chief with the administration of the department; overseeing the department's personnel up to Fire Assistant Chief; ensuring departmental policies, procedures, expectations, and public service regulations are upheld; and assuming command of the Fire Department with full authority in the absence of the Fire Chief. Assistant Chief The Fire Assistant Chief plays an important part in the administration of the department, overseeing all Stations, Fire Battalion Chiefs and running one of the Operations. The main duties of the Fire Assistant Chief include: overseeing the department's personnel up to Fire Battalion Chief; ensuring department policy, procedure, expectations, and public service regulations are upheld; handling all requests within their assigned Operation; finalizing promotions when necessary; and liaising with other departments and teams in situations that warrant such liaison. Fire Officers Battalion Chief Battalion Chiefs have a more direct line of communication with department employees, overseeing Stations within his or her Battalion. Fire Battalion Chiefs are responsible for personnel management and other administrative affairs. They are mostly responsible for personnel-related administrative affairs. Captain II Captain IIs are mostly responsible for interacting with his or her relative station personnel in the field, informing them on his or her progress, and monitoring how well he or she performs. Fire Captain IIs are also tasked with handling personnel-related administrative affairs within his or her Station, alongside of the Station Battalion. Captain I Fire Captain Is are mostly responsible for interacting with his or her relative station personnel in the field, responding to calls with them, informing them on his or her progress, and monitoring how well he or she performs. Fire Captain Is are also tasked with handling personnel-related administrative affairs within their station, alongside of the Station Battalion and the Station Captain. Firefighter-Paramedics Engineer Engineer is the department's Field Training Officer II role, and is the most senior non-commissioned position a member can achieve within the department, with its main focus being towards training and testing new members. Engineers actively assist, train and observe newer department employees, including answering any questions they may have. They demonstrate a proactive stance on both firefighting and medical calls equally. They also help their Station Captains in overseeing the Field Training Program. Firefighter III Firefighter III is the department's Field Training Officer I role, with its main responsibility being the training and testing of new members. Firefighter IIIs actively assist, train and observe newer department employees, including answering any questions they may have. They demonstrate a proactive stance on both firefighting and medical calls equally. Firefighter II Firefighter II is the most common and essential position of the department, with its high level of focus on field work, held by all fire-sworn personnel who have passed the Field Training Program, with the exception of a Field Training Officer and above. Their main duties include: responding to medical and firefighting calls as needed; acting as role-models to less experienced members of the department, and participating in household chores around their assigned station. Firefighter-EMTs Firefighter I Firefighter I is the lowest-grade fire-sworn position of the department, with the main goal of gaining knowledge and experience through practical duties alongside seasoned Firefighters. Their main duties include: working towards the completion of the Field Training Program, gaining and demonstrating knowledge and improvement through actions in practice, and responding to medical and fire scenes with other members of the department. Firefighter Reserve Firefighter Reserve is the department's part-time position for employees who are unable to dedicate to a full shift. Their main duties include: responding to medical and firefighting calls as needed, and participating in household chores around their assigned station. Information Resources LSFD Forums Faction Recruitment Faction Publications LSFD Twatter LSFD Snapmatic

History and rise to power The post-World War II era marked a significant turning point for the Yakuza. Amid the chaos of Japan's reconstruction, they capitalized on the black market economy, expanding their operations into construction, entertainment, and real estate. By the 1960s, their numbers had swelled to over 180,000 members, and they wielded considerable power in both the underworld and legitimate sectors. However, their rise was not without challenges. The introduction of anti-organized crime laws in the 1990s, coupled with societal changes and economic stagnation, led to a decline in their membership and influence. Despite this, the Yakuza have shown remarkable adaptability, shifting their focus to cybercrime, international trafficking, and other covert activities. The 1992 Anti-gang law in Japan marked a significant turning point in the country's efforts to combat organized crime. Officially known as the "Anti-Boryokudan" Law, it was designed to weaken the influence of criminal syndicates, including the Yakuza, by targeting their operations and financial networks. The law made it easier for authorities to shut down gang offices, search properties, and hold leaders accountable for crimes committed by their subordinates. One of the key provisions of the law was its focus on racketeering and extortion, which had long been central to Yakuza operations. By imposing stricter penalties and enabling law enforcement to act more decisively, the law disrupted traditional methods of intimidation and financial exploitation. Additionally, it allowed for the confiscation of assets linked to criminal activities, further undermining the economic power of these groups The Anti-gang law also paved the way for subsequent legislation aimed at excluding organized crime from legitimate sectors, such as construction and public works. Over time, these measures have contributed to a decline in Yakuza membership and influence, although the syndicates have adapted by shifting their focus to more covert activities, including cybercrime and international trafficking. The Yakuza Hierarchy The Yakuza operate under a strict hierarchy rooted in loyalty and seniority. At the top is the oyabun (boss), who commands absolute obedience from his kobun (followers). This relationship mirrors a familial bond, with the oyabun offering protection in exchange for unwavering servitude. The initiation ceremony, sakazuki-goto, involves sharing a sake cup, symbolizing loyalty. Members keep the cup as a token of commitment. Over time, kobun can adopt their own followers, growing the syndicate's network. The initiation ceremony, sakazuki-goto, involves sharing a sake cup, symbolizing loyalty. Members keep the cup as a token of commitment. Over time, kobun can adopt their own followers, growing the syndicate's network. Through this method the family will grow and branch off, to the point where a new family may be formed. Oyabun (Boss): The leader of the organization, holding absolute authority and respect. Every decision comes from the oyabun, and all members are expected to obey without question. Saiko-komon (Senior Advisor): Trusted advisers responsible for managing administrative and strategic matters, ensuring that the oyabun's plans are carried out efficiently. Wakagashira (First Lieutenant): The oyabun's right-hand person, managing day-to-day operations and overseeing the entire structure of members. Shateigashira (Second Lieutenant): Manages specific areas or smaller branches under the wakagashira's supervision, focusing on localized tasks. Shingiin (Law Advisor): Handles legal matters and ensures operations remain as discreet as possible while avoiding law enforcement complications. Kaikei (Accountants): Responsible for the group's finances, maintaining cash flow, laundering funds, and organizing transactions. Kyodai (Big Brothers): Senior members acting as mentors to lower-ranking individuals and supervising their activities on behalf of higher ranks. Shatei (Little Brothers): Junior members who carry out orders, enforce decisions, and handle groundwork, such as collecting debts or managing street-level tasks. Expansion As Japan's economy boomed in the 1980s and investments in American markets grew, these syndicates sought to exploit new opportunities on the mainland. They began targeting major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, where established Japanese-American communities provided a potential network for integration. Their primary focus expanded to include money laundering through real estate investments, corporate ventures, and even art and antiques markets. These seemingly legitimate channels offered a convenient front for illicit funds generated through drug trafficking and other illegal activities. Initially, their activities were heavily concentrated in Hawaii, where they capitalized on the influx of Japanese tourists by establishing gambling and prostitution rackets tailored to their clientele. However, as Japanese investments in the American economy surged, the Yakuza's ambitions grew accordingly. One of their most lucrative ventures was drug trafficking, where they utilized established smuggling routes and connections with other international crime networks. They also exploited legitimate businesses, such as restaurants and import-export companies, as fronts for their illicit activities. These businesses not only facilitated money laundering but also provided a veneer of legitimacy that helped them evade law enforcement scrutiny. By the early 1990s, U.S. authorities had become increasingly aware of the syndicates' presence and influence. Collaborative efforts between American and Japanese law enforcement agencies were initiated to combat their activities, leading to several high-profile arrests and the disruption of key operations. Despite these efforts, the syndicates demonstrated remarkable adaptability, shifting their focus to more covert and sophisticated methods, including cybercrime and financial fraud. Modern Day The involvement of Japanese organized crime syndicates in nuclear materials trafficking has raised significant concerns among international law enforcement agencies. Recent investigations have uncovered attempts by these groups to smuggle weapons-grade nuclear materials, including uranium and plutonium, sourced from conflict zones in Southeast Asia. These materials were allegedly intended for sale to foreign entities, potentially for use in nuclear weapons programs. The syndicates employed sophisticated methods to facilitate these operations, including encrypted communications and covert meetings in multiple countries. Undercover agents revealed that the materials were often accompanied by detailed documentation, such as lab analyses and radiation measurements, to verify their authenticity. The transactions were part of broader schemes involving narcotics trafficking and the procurement of advanced military weaponry, such as surface-to-air missiles. These activities underscore the transnational nature of organized crime and the risks posed by the intersection of criminal networks and global security threats. Efforts to dismantle these operations have required extensive international cooperation, with authorities in Japan, Southeast Asia, and the United States working together to intercept shipments and apprehend key figures involved. Cybercrime has become a significant avenue for these groups, with syndicates engaging in hacking, identity theft, and cryptocurrency scams. Their expertise in navigating the digital world allows them to target individuals and businesses across borders, making detection and prosecution increasingly challenging. These operations often involve collaboration with other international criminal organizations, further expanding their reach. Human trafficking also remains a troubling aspect of their activities. Syndicates exploit vulnerable individuals, particularly migrant workers and women, for forced labor and sexual exploitation. These operations are often conducted under the guise of legitimate employment agencies, making it difficult for authorities to intervene. Despite their reduced numbers, they continue to pose challenges for law enforcement and society. OOC INFORMATION Miyazaki-Dōmei 宮崎同盟 is a fictional criminal organization which is inspired by Japanese-American diaspora networks and "traditional" Yakuza ideology. This faction is not portraying a direct Yakuza branch from Japan, but rather a localized syndicate which operates independently in LS and of course, it is shaped by cultural heritage, modern American influences, and street-level realities. The focus of the faction is on portraying a realistic criminal environment, which draws from real-world diasporan models similar to those of Southeastern European factions, like, Southeastern European and East Asian groups which are active abroad. All recruitment is handled strictly IC. We value character development, respect for continuity, and we adhere to all server rules. For questions & concerns, or constructive dialogue feel free to contact @Femto

From Dominance to Decline: The Valenti Family's Era of Influence and the New Criminal Landscape By GEORGE WILKES December 7th, 2023 A Changing of the Guard In the early 20th century, the state of San Andreas saw a rise in violent feuds between various traditional organized crime groups. Towards the latter half of the century, organized crime activity seemed all but non-existent, at least in the public eye, until a drastic change of events that would go on to change the landscape of organized crime in the city for the foreseeable future. After the release of a seasoned Genovese captain in 1987, a small crew of Italians began migrating from the East Coast to establish criminal operations in the state of San Andreas, choosing Los Santos as the base for their activities. Their operations, primarily focused on sports betting, loan sharking, and pornography, quickly took root. The crew’s migration received the green light from the Genovese hierarchy, a decision driven not only by the crew's proven proficiency in managing profitable mob rackets, but also significantly bolstered by their deep-rooted familial ties within the Genovese organization. By 1992, more and more mafiosi from the crew started their transition from New York to Los Santos. This expansion was met with trepidation by the Genovese hierarchy, who viewed the ambitious undertakings as a potential split from their orbit of influence. By 1993, the majority of the operations of the Genovese-backed crew had shifted to Los Santos, drawing the ire of the established Cosa Nostra in the city—the Petrulli family, which had dominated the Los Santos underworld since the 1930s. Tensions escalated to the point where in 1993, the leadership of both the Genovese and Petrulli families were regularly in contact, discussing concerns over the burgeoning faction. It culminated in the Genovese boss Vincent “The Chin” Gigante allegedly disowning and sanctioning the elimination of the emerging leader of the crew. In October of 1993, two mafiosi opened fire on a grocery store in East Los Santos, killing one and injuring another. The survivor would later be revealed by authorities to be the head of a notorious Mafia clan. For the first time in a decade, law enforcement recognized an emerging organized crime presence in Los Santos with the event igniting a bloody Mafia war in the state. According to FBI estimates, within two years 23 mafiosi were killed in the gruesome war. Like all wars, there are winners and losers. The survivor of the grocery store shooting in 1993 faced a pivotal moment in 2011 when he was convicted on charges of racketeering and conspiracy despite being exonerated for the high-profile murder charge of his former friend and underboss, Paul Nunziatta, in 2008. Santino “The Butcher” Valenti, the original patriarch of the Los Santos crime family, was largely unknown in the early 1990s. However, by May 29, 2011, the day of his landmark conviction, the Butcher may have been responsible for over 20 murders spanning over a 30-year career in organized crime, with two thirds of that timeframe sitting at the top of a flourishing state-wide criminal syndicate dubbed by law enforcement officials as the Valenti crime family. Public court documents reveal that Valenti not only lived a life of luxury and excess, better known as the American Dream, if you’ve seen Scarface, but the Butcher also went to extreme lengths to protect his world of luxury. His lavish lifestyle included various properties owned through number companies, family members, and different identities which are now the subject of various foreclosure proceedings. Those that were close to him enjoyed the fruits of his “labor”—or spoils of his criminal activities. Despite his conviction, Valenti, now in poor health, could potentially see freedom again in 2036. Valenti’s era, marked by extravagance—from memberships at elite golf and yacht clubs to a fleet of luxury sports cars—seems a distant memory in the city's current criminal landscape. Today, the landscape of organized crime on the West Coast has undergone a dramatic transformation. Gone are the days when the Mafia, particularly the Valenti crime family, reigned supreme in the state of San Andreas. The modern-day picture, marked by feuds, internal power shifts and premature resurgences, depicts a withered organization on life support, battling its way through courtrooms. Once considered one of the most sophisticated and elusive Mafia organizations in the country, today, the Valenti crime family looks unfamiliar. Law enforcement officials value the Los Santos (Valenti) crime family at a mere quarter of its original size and have, consequently, scaled back their interest in pursuing the group and other mafia groups in general. The shift in focus is now on tackling home-bred terrorism, drug cartels, and white-collar crimes, which have proven more profitable than traditional organized crime. The mafia's decline on the West Coast, particularly the erosion of the Valenti family’s influence, reflects broader trends in organized crime. With a headcount depleted by indictments and a limited recruitment pool, mafia figures control smaller, less influential criminal rackets and their focus has shifted increasingly into legitimate business. A stark contrast to the family’s heyday during the Butcher’s days when he ruled Los Santos with an iron fist, collecting his share of all Cosa Nostra activity in the area. In recent years, the Valenti family has been unable to maintain territorial control of their stomping ground, as well as many of the illegal operations in their far-flung criminal enterprise. The decline of the mafia is often attributed to the effectiveness of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and the relentless pursuit by federal authorities combined with a modern criminal landscape that favors less structured, more entrepreneurial forms of illicit activity. This shift suggests that traditional mafia organizations, like the Valenti family, are being outmaneuvered by more adaptive criminal elements. As the old guard fades into obscurity, questions linger about the future of La Cosa Nostra in the state. The story of the Valenti family, once intertwined with the very fabric of Los Santos, now serves as a cautionary tale of rise, dominance, and eventual decline in the unforgiving world of crime. Infighting and Indictments Following the Butcher’s landmark conviction, it is believed that street boss and former captain of the Tony’s Liquor crew, Joey “Buddha” Panzarino, assumed control of the family’s day-to-day activities, in the role of acting boss. In short order, however, Panzarino found himself in the same predicament as Santino, convicted under RICO and dealt a lengthy sentence. Panzarino’s underboss, Anthony Corsaro, was tapped on the shoulder as Buddha’s replacement, bringing with him a period of stability to the family’s leadership. Corsaro’s administration consisted of seasoned wiseguys from the Butcher’s inner circle including Gino “Gigi” Giordano, Ray Avena and Paul “Duke” Carducci. Under Corsaro’s leadership it was seemingly business as usual for the Valenti organization, which had initially experienced only a marginal slip in projected criminal revenue and influence following the loss of their patriarchal leader. The Valentis extended their reign over the Los Santos underworld until late 2012 when things began to unravel in what would be the beginning of years of internal power struggles for the once stable powerhouse. The sudden disappearance of Corsaro and Carducci left a major void at the top of the family. Captain Vincent “Bulldog” Malacci, formerly the Butcher’s personal driver and bodyguard, assumed control of the family for a short stint before he, too, disappeared. With law-enforcement scrutiny mounting, members of Valenti branches based out of Florida, San Diego, and San Francisco scrambled to fill the leadership vacuum and restructure the ailing outfit. Among them was Florida-based captain Stephen Cersani, who was appointed boss shortly after the disappearance of Malacci. Much to the dismay of the Valentis, Cersani’s reign ended abruptly as the family was faced with its most damaging series of indictments yet. Much of the Valenti family’s success in its heyday can be attributed to the shades of Genovese seen in the family’s fiercely adhered to values of loyalty and secrecy. The prestige, however, began to wear thin when Lucas Santora, originally a soldier of the Fiumano crew the Valentis had absorbed years prior, turned government informant. Frank Nappi, a Valenti captain among the reinforcements hailing from San Francisco, also turned informant, and testified against his mob peers in a historic mafia trial that crippled the family further. It has since been speculated that Cersani was installed as a front boss, essentially a lightning rod, for the Butcher’s consigliere and close confidant Samuel “Sammy the Beak” Beccarini. As the legend has it, the Beak garnered his nickname after making an off-color remark and receiving a mean haymaker to the nose courtesy of the Butcher. Beccarini, who had only recently been released from prison, narrowly avoided the initial indictments and it is believed that he reassumed position of acting boss for a short time before he, too, wound up behind bars. A New Rival Emerges Since then, numerous attempts have been made at regaining control of the Valenti crime family’s operations. However, to no surprise, all attempts have failed to steer the ship back on its once steady course. There was a time when scrutiny from law enforcement was the least of the family’s worries. Mob experts suggest that at one point the Valentis had a number of police officers on their payroll. Elder statesmen-like gangsters held the belief that only Sonny himself could bring the organization back to its former status of glory. However, some in-house gangsters disagreed. Nicholas Diopare, a former captain of the family, once known as the Apache, and Oakland-based soldier Anthony Sutera, tried their hand at the boss seat one after the other but were unable to rival the success of Butcher and his cohorts. Diopare, despite bringing some level of structure to the organization, was murdered in a brazen daylight shooting dubbed the “New Year’s Day Massacre” by media outlets. Sutera, fingered as the perpetrator, would ironically meet the same fate as the Apache in the months to come. Ultimately, both attempts at restoring the family would go on to put the organization in deeper chaos and, unknowingly, give way to a new breed of wiseguys. Mob experts called this new breed, “Mickey Mouse gangsters.” The most successful of this new “Mickey Mouse” crowd, Michael Sarino, is rumoured to have once been the personal chauffeur of Anthony Sutera. Sarino would later be linked to Sutera’s murder as well as the murder of his mentor, captain Patrick Durante, earning himself the nickname “The Snake.” With no official backing, Sarino would eventually ally himself with Valenti soldier Joseph Bellantonio and go on to form a renegade crew, today known as the Bellantonio crime family. It is rumoured that Joseph Bellantonio went from being a respected soldier to an outcast in West Coast mob circles. Sarino was shot and killed by his own gang in 2016. According to law enforcement, the Bellantonio group are structured like a traditional crime family despite their start as a loosely organized street gang based out of Eastmoor. Many old school mobsters consider the bunch anything but a real Cosa Nostra family. The group’s culture is marked by loose recruitment standards, an extreme level of treachery, street gang-like recklessness, and hair-trigger tendencies, which pales in comparison to the low key, quiet, and methodical essence of typical La Cosa Nostra organizations. From its genesis in 2014 and onwards, the Bellantonio group has garnered the majority of public attention and law enforcement pressure leading to speculation that the original Los Santos mafia, the Valenti crime family, is out of commission. A Glimmer of Hope The Valenti crime family, once a formidable force in Los Santos with its tentacles of influence reaching as far as the mayor's office, has faded from the public eye in recent years. The question arises: have the major league players on the West Coast disbanded, or has law enforcement shifted focus to more immediate threats to society? In 2015, the Valenti family showed new signs of life as rumors began to spread of a resurgence—albeit a premature one. Authorities believe that Samuel Beccarini’s former underboss, Frank Carna, hailing from the San Diego-based Lorenzo Valenti crew arrived in Los Santos as a reinforcement amidst the chaos in 2013. Carna would take on the role of a peacemaker, brokering an alliance with Sutera’s underboss, Robert Luppino, and Joseph Bellantonio of his namesake gang. The de facto three-man ruling panel, aspiring to bring peace and order to the turbulent Los Santos underworld, proved to be short-lived. As fate would have it, Frank Carna returned to his native Philadelphia for a funeral and was killed in a freak car accident. In the aftermath of Carna’s sudden death, the partnership would give rise to issues amongst the ruling panel and cause a split, with each entity returning to separate regimes. Once again, the Bellantonio regime continued making headlines while remnants of the Valenti family remained in the shadows, leaving questions as to whether the group still exists in any meaningful capacity. Though the Valenti family might seem a relic of the past, unable to adapt to new challenges and increased scrutiny, their legacy of strategic sophistication suggests that any brushing aside of a potential resurgence may be ill-advised. In any case, most consider the Butcher’s criminal organization to be a has-been. Mob experts suggested that much of the family’s members may have fled Los Santos back to their original outposts in San Diego, San Francisco, Florida, and Las Vegas. American Cosa Nostra on a Steep Decline While consensus exists that La Cosa Nostra is a waning enterprise not only for crime families in the West Coast, like the Valenti family, but also nationwide, experts are divided over the causes of this gradual decline. Steve Weldon, an independent political science analyst, has suggested in a research proposal that the migration of white populations from urban areas is a key factor diminishing the Mafia's power, particularly affecting its political influence. According to Weldon, as these populations leave urban centers, criminal organizations like the La Cosa Nostra families inevitably lose their recruitment pools. Another pivotal element in the Mafia's decline is RICO, crafted by University of Notre Dame law professor George Robert Blakely. The legislation has been a crucial tool for investigators targeting organized crime. Some speculate that had the Mafia maintained its connections with certain political figures, RICO, as we know it, may not even exist. Law enforcement officials and crime analysts also point to the intense pressure from federal authorities as a primary reason for the struggles facing American Cosa Nostra. The effectiveness of the witness protection program has allowed many mobsters to exit "the life," further weakening the Mafia's grip, as seen in the case of informants Lucas Santora and Frank Nappi. In a recent discussion panel with Robert Botnick, an analyst from the FBI’s organized crime branch, it was revealed that there is a credible possibility that the Butcher’s crew remains operational, though their numbers dwindled to an estimated quarter of its former size. Some panel volunteers estimated an even smaller figure. Botnick highlighted the emergence of new, unrelated individuals ascending within what remains of the traditional organized crime groups such as foreign emissaries from mafia counterparts like ‘Ndrangheta. Botnick noted, “Assessing these mafia groups is challenging because the Mafia is highly adaptable to shifting circumstances—a historical constant.” The Latest in the Wild West There's little cause for public alarm regarding encounters with these "goodfellas." In today's economically stringent mafia scene, many members are more likely to be collecting social welfare benefits than engaging in the kind of high-stakes racketeering depicted in shows like The Sopranos. You may even find your local wiseguy hustling a community bingo game. Times are tough. Yet, the existence of small, savvy mafia cells that manage to quietly profit from less conspicuous activities cannot be entirely dismissed for those keeping tabs on the Mafia. The “mob” is still very well out there, just not in the same way. After several years in the shadows, marked by rumours of its demise, the Valenti crime family began showing signs of activity in 2018. Lead organized crime journalist for the Los Santos Times, Ferris Cottone, shared his observation: “The new signs of life in the Valenti family interestingly coincided with the releases of former acting boss Samuel “Sammy the Beak” Beccarini and Donald “Ducks” Rigazzi in 2018 and 2019 respectively. With the rest of the Butcher’s inner circle either dead, behind bars, or retired, it is very plausible that the likes of Beccarini and Rigazzi have what it takes to bring some form of unity and structure back to the Valenti family.” The uptick, however, was not without its troubles. During a period of internal stability for the family, the Valentis found themselves locked into a bitter and bloody feud with their notorious rivals, the Bellantonios. The conflict would go on to spark a surge of violence in the Los Santos underworld, marking one of the most brutal turf wars in recent American Mafia history and in the process claiming numerous lives over a span of three years. The feud’s intensity finally waned with the return of Bonanno crime family bigwig Joseph “The Barber” Uttaro to Los Santos, presumably at the instruction of the New York Commission. The Barber, rumoured to have facilitated a crucial peace treaty between the conflicting families, suggested the cessation of all “business” ties—a suggestion, now a directive, that has since been upheld meticulously by both sides (there has been no mob war-linked murder since 2021). Unfortunately, peace arrived too late in preventing a resurgence elsewhere—one from the Feds. The crackdown on the two local crime families, initiated in the midst of their bloody feud, would soon bear fruit with the Bellantonio organization being the first to face indictments in late 2020, followed by the Valentis in 2021. The ensuing legal battles would deal a significant blow to both organizations as several high-ranking mob figures were publicly arrested throughout the state. The investigation into the Valenti crime family gained momentum following the mysterious disappearance of alleged soldier Arnold Brigone, leading to a deeper probe into captain Lucas "Pags" Pagano and his crew. The outcome? You guessed it, lengthy prison sentences. Court records indicate Pagano, a savvy businessman and self-proclaimed entrepreneur, oversaw a state-wide money laundering operation spread across various unsuspecting businesses, like a poultry farm in Dillimore owned and operated by a widow. At trial, it was revealed that Pagano would take proceeds from illegal mob activities and later pay out capital dividends from shell companies to himself, other members of his crew and senior-ranking members of the Valenti organization. His operation consisted of not only converting mob money to legitimate money, but also avoiding various taxes in the process. Other Valenti figureheads listed in the indictment include a close ally of Rigazzi, Paul Grumo, who some mob experts believe to be a recent addition to the family’s administration, and alleged captains Rudolph Guercini and Carmine “Baggs” Baggalia. Not included in the indictments, much to the surprise of mafia experts, was Bill Dippolito, who is rumored to be a feared enforcer originating from the San Diego-based Lorenzo Valenti crew and is recently believed to be a major player in Los Santos. Officials speculate that the Valenti crime family has been significantly weakened because of the recent indictments, possibly putting the organization on its last legs. Mob trials are ongoing for both the Valentis and Bellantonios. Law enforcement officials declined to comment on the record the total number of active members aligned with the family. However, one law enforcement official, speaking on the current state and structure, said that they preferred to wait for the outcome of the current case before making any further statements about the hierarchy, which is relatively unknown these days. Some members have likely moved out of the state or left the family altogether, some are in retirement, others missing in action. With a low concentration of Italians in the greater Los Santos area, recruiting new members is a challenge, especially considering the selective process of getting initiated into this thing of theirs. In the years immediately following his conviction, Santino “The Butcher” Valenti was believed to have been running the family from behind bars in some fashion and still served as official boss of the family. However, it is rumored that his involvement in the organization has been greatly reduced after crippling indictments against his inner circle. With numerous acting bosses putting their own stamp on the family throughout the years, the family is probably unrecognizable to the Butcher himself. As the Valenti crime family's influence wanes and new criminal elements emerge, the story of organized crime in Los Santos reflects the broader evolution of underworld power dynamics. What was once a tightly controlled empire built on loyalty, secrecy, and ruthless ambition has fractured under the weight of relentless law enforcement and internal strife. Nevertheless, the enduring saga of the Valentis serves as a poignant testament to the timeless nature of such legacies—not simply products of their era, but shapers of history itself. With the future of both local crime families hanging in the balance amid ongoing trials, one begs the question as to whether or not the local wiseguys have finally learned their lesson and whether the current period of peace is the new status quo, or are they doomed to repeat the same old mistakes that have plagued them in recent years? In which case, with history as our guide, the extinction of the Mafia in Los Santos could very soon become a reality. George Wilkes contributing from Los Santos. A version of this article appeared in print on December 7th 2023 on page A2 of the National edition.

After a week of careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to step away from Los Santos Roleplay. Consequently, my tenure of approximately 14 years with The Valenti Crime Family will also come to an end. This decision was not made lightly, and I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to my growth and development as a roleplayer. Firstly, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to @Busato, whose guidance and friendship has proven absolutely invaluable throughout the years. Your dedication to everything that you do has been inspiring not only to me personally, but to us all. Secondly, I would like to thank Jord, whose forum name I can't find—but that's fine. He probably wouldn't know how to check his fucking notifications anyway. I met this motherfucker a long time ago when Philip Decavalcante (my character) and Nicholas_Diopare (his character) was still an associate and we would juice everyone's fucking heads together for the littlest of reasons. This man has helped me in my development a lot and some of my best and grittiest memories within Los Santos Roleplay have one of his characters standing next to mine, likely doing the killing or the cutting. (You sick fuck) Thirdly, I would like to thank @Voronov because while we have not ever necessarily had the opportunity to craft pure art together directly, your exemplary roleplay ability and ideology has helped me a lot through my progression from a luxurious muthafucka into a more luxurious muthafucka. In short, while you make absolutely the most horrible decisions when it comes to laptops, your influence has been profoundly impactful, and you deserve credit for that. Fourth, a special mention goes to @Adam_Ottone. Although not necessarily on Los Santos Roleplay anymore, you have and will always be Valenti. Your support through The D'Aquila Crime Family and giving me the opportunity to serve as a Captain for the first time have been incredible experiences for me. Granted, I fucking killed it but... it was you that provided me the opportunity. So I'd say you deserve at least a little credit. Fifth, I know @Francis_Giansello (I love you too motherfucker) will love me for this one but I'm a loyal motherfucker and will always be. Despite the opinions of him, Vincent Malacci who has helped me a fuck ton and I'll always have that Arab motherfucker's back even if it's me and him against the world. I doubt he'll ever get to read this as he's probably busy studying Hussein's history but I love you bro. Stay up. And thanks for all the hours of prank calls and laughs on Skype. Lastly, everyone else whom I've built an unbreakable fucking bond with (special shoutout to @Michael_Dippolito who is bald in real life but compensates by making hairline jokes). Watching people like @Peter_Genusa grow from Bellomo to Valenti has been an absolute pleasure and I would like to think that I helped a little with that development. Even if I probably haven't. I'd still like to think I did. Who are we kidding? Of course I did. I'm sure I did. I also have to give a special shoutout to @Sozza who has literally always been there for me through thick and thin. I love you brother! I have received numerous private messages from individuals both within and outside of Valenti, and I want to clarify my stance. I have loved, continue to love, and will always cherish The Valenti Crime Family. My dedication over the past decade is a testament to that loyalty and respect towards the faction and the people within it. Although there was a minor disagreement with the faction's administration regarding a particular scene and myself, I would need to be a fucking idiot to let that ruin the amazing experience I've had with this faction and the bonds I've built with the people within it. As I move forward, I urge you all to continue the legacy we have established. Maintain the standards of excellence and camaraderie that make the Borgata, the Borgata. What makes Valenti Valenti is not necessarily the above-standard roleplay ability but rather the fact that the people within it genuinely have love for each other and have always worked for the betterment of Valenti. Our ability to reach a common ground, even through heated disagreements is what kept this faction alive for so long. Respect to all the OGs that aren't with us anymore. (Probably literally and not literally). NB: This should also serve as my resignation from the Illegal Faction Team as well. The reason I was on Los Santos Roleplay was because I wanted to give the management one last chance to prove their worth and they've proved their worth (or lack thereof) with the alien event and the way they've been handling most issues. Thank you to those within Faction Management that tried working with me to better the server only to find a big fucking brick wall in front of us. Anyway, I'll be waiting at the next place for you all where @Adam_Ottone has very kindly prepared the future for us all. Fucking magician. 'Con rispetto Keep it luxurious Brigo

GUIDE TO PAISA ROLEPLAY @Freedom Fighter, @EGN & @Nuke Introduction Understanding Narco culture USA Paisa Prison culture & Paisa Gangs USA based Paisa plenipotentiaries Females in the Narco underworld Summary Everything above is what you can expect to read about and learn in this guide, the guide itself will be kept somewhat short but still detailed enough to give people a deep insight to how they should roleplay their characters. This guide will be simply what it’s intended for, a guide, so don’t expect me to hold your hand and give you a step by step walkthrough. INTRODUCTION Hey there, if you’re reading this then it’s probably because you want to know more about roleplaying a Mexican National, if so there’s a lot of stuff you need to know about roleplay as a person involved in the Paisa criminal underworld. It can get very tricky and complex, to a point that a lot of stuff can actually get confusing. We’ve personally been roleplaying in the Paisa scene for years and a lot of our knowledge has been gathered through external sources, reading between the lines, speaking to certain individuals that have grown up around Narco traffickers etc, although we’re not experts on the subject, we do believe our knowledge is enough to justify reasoning to make this. Also, lil tip it’s pronounced “Pie-sa”, “Pie-sa-no”, “Pie-sa-na”. UNDERSTAND NARCO CULTURE Understanding Narco culture can be quite confusing at times, especially if you don’t know an awful lot about the background of Mexico, and how traffickers evolved from individual plaza (turf) bosses running their own designated sections, to eventually being aligned to many of the different cartels throughout the country. The thing with Narco traffickers is, at the very beginning they were all mostly from the state of Sinaloa, and keep this in your head because it plays a major connection a bit further into this guide, but originally it was plaza bosses running their own little turfs until Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo had a bright idea to form Mexico’s first Narco commission, which became known as the Guadalajara Cartel; Mexico’s very first legitimate “Cartel”. But the major thing about this? The Guadalajara Cartel didn’t just become powerful due to having plaza bosses operating as a union under them, quite the opposite, sure it was a part in their power uprise but if it wasn’t for the Dirección Federal de Seguridad (DFS) the Guadalajara Cartel wouldn’t have been anything. The DFS is sort of like the CIA of Mexico, but the FBI at the same time. You’re probably wondering why I’m giving you this rundown, well it’s pretty simple because the Cartels in Mexico are usually backed by someone; the most powerful ones that is. It’s not hard to figure this out of course, but another major part of understanding Narco culture, especially in the modern day and age is to understand the political parties that are in Mexico. ] See, the thing is parties like MORENA and the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) are all allegedly backing Cartels to this very day in Mexico. Two examples of this is MORENA allegedly backing the Sinaloa Cartel and the PRI allegedly backing the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. This is one of the biggest issues when it comes to Narco roleplay, understanding the political parties, their goals and history because to fully understand the Narco underworld in Mexico, you first need to understand the political parties that run it. You remember The Zetas? The first group of mad men to turn Mexico’s Narco warfare into militarized combat? I’ll give you a few seconds to figure out how they managed to reign in huge control for almost a decade without any interference. That’s right, if you guessed the PRI then you know more than I thought you know already. See the PRI ruled Mexico through various presidential elections for decades upon decades, not losing a single one meaning they had control of the country, but when the MORENA party won one election it set off a ticking timebomb in the country that forever changed the criminal underworld in it. At the time the Zetas weren’t really known as the Zetas per say n were still coming up, and hadn’t fully found their identification yet but the PRI took note of them being Ex Cuerpo de Fuerzas Especiales (GAFES) and decided to manipulate it to their favour, helping a paramilitarized wing of the Gulf Cartel rise to power and eventually become their own thing once they split. Does this remind you of anything? That’s also right, if you guessed the Jalisco New Generation Cartel you know more than I thought you already knew. Just like the Z splitting from GAFES, Mencho split from the Milenio Cartel and with the PRI’s backing ended up forming CJNG. So I think by now you’re pretty versed in knowing that without political parties pulling strings, nothing would go. Now, you remember I mentioned Sinaloa priorly? Remember I said keep it in the back of your mind? Well that’s because most of these Cartels were once headed by Sinaloense Capos, who were mostly born in Badiraguato; described as Mexican Sicily. Sinaloa Cartel, Tijuana Organization, Juarez Organization etc were all founded by Sinaloan traffickers at one point in time. There’s also a common popular fashion trend in Mexico called Buchón/Buchóna fashion, this originated in Sinaloa and is now used country wide. The Buchón/Buchóna fashion trend was a way most Narco traffickers dressed, and eventually before you knew it, it became a common day trend among many people in the Mexican countryside and mountains. A contributing factor to the militarization of various drug cartels operating in Mexico is the recruitment of special forces, from both Mexico and other countries such as the Kaibiles of Guatemala. The majority of cartel operatives do not have military experience, and are instead trained by those who do. While the number of special forces who desert and join these organizations is generally low, the cartels supplement this by hiring police officers wherever they can. While it's rare for corrupt law enforcement to participate in crime in the United States, these cells filled entirely with Municipal police officers commit some of the most heinous murders and high profile kidnappings. Many "murder houses" were discovered to have been ran by such police cells. One's position in the organization depends on the skills a person provides for leadership such as logistical experience or business degrees. This assigns you to a position in the pyramid, the top dedicated to the most influential individuals and families controlling the entity itself. Once assigned a position it is very hard to rise above middle management, this could be equated to a lifetime position at a company but without the ability to move up to the very top. Despite what the media tells you, El Chapo was not the zenith of Sinaloa's hierarchy. They will also put their reputation behind other groups from south and central america, such as but not limited to Colombians, Cubans, Guatemalans, Panamanians and Venezuelans. They use such people who overstay their visas and remain illegally within Mexico to extort street vendors, clubs and taxi companies among many other businesses. This sophisticated scam is common throughout Latin America, known as 'gota a gota', offering small loans through Colombian front men and then begin to pressure more money by increasing the interest rates by %400 within only a few weeks. Another thing to keep in mind with the Narco underworld is that everyone is kept tabs on, what I mean by this is if you’re employed to work with a Cartel cell, chances are they already know more about you than you know about yourself. The reason for this is, it’s hugely beneficial for them to know who they’re employing, and when it comes to the fear factor, family and close friends are often threatened. Those with relatives are normally the ones that get second chances and stuff with their family being used as collateral, whilst those employed without relatives are usually given one shot and if they fuck up they’re tossed to the trash pile, the reasoning for this yet again is to ensure safety of the organization as a person who has something to lose is more likely to follow commands than someone who has nothing to lose would. "La Santa Muerte has crossed the US/Mexico Border for over a decade, accompanying her devotees on their arduous journeys north. Also known as La Flaquita (The Skinny One), La Niña Blanca (The White Girl), La Niña Negra (The Black Girl), Señora de las Sombras (Lady of the Shadows), La Huesuda (Bony Lady), La Niña Bonita (The Pretty Girl), La Madrina (The Godmother), and more reverently, La Santísima Muerte (The Most Holy Death), she is a beloved saint of dispossessed peoples. I first met Santa Muerte in 2002 during fieldwork with undocumented migrant transgender sex workers from Guadalajara, Mexico, who lived in San Francisco. Santa Muerte featured prominently on home altars in their single-room occupancy hotel rooms. I had not encountered the saint before and was surprised by her obvious importance in their lives. Thus began over a decade of following Santa Muerte to Mexico, California, the US/Mexico Border, and even small towns in northern Wisconsin. In the early years of my research, few people in Mexico would talk to me about her, and few in the US knew of her; she was either underground or unknown. Now, the Bony Lady is “out” and very visible. Since early 2000, worship has grown dramatically in Mexico and in the US, especially among migrants. I came to understand her popularity among migrants and LGBTQ communities in Mexico; she is associated with those living precarious lives and/or engaged in dangerous undertakings. What surprised me, however, was that government entities both in the US and in Mexico, shared my interest in the Bony Lady. The Drug Enforcement Agency, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Mexican government, and the Mexican military all actively oppose the worship of Santa Muerte. A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) law enforcement bulletin claims: “Santa Muerte informational training can prove so stressful for some law enforcement and public safety officers that they can become physically ill and pass out. This has happened more than once. Programs and writings concerning wellness and spirituality can provide ‘spiritual armor’”" The practice and worship of Santa Muerte is widely known for its crossing of Catholic symbology with indigenous beliefs featuring totems, amulets, curses and blessings as well as sacrifice. The most common and visual display of worship is the act of putting offerings to the spirit world in the form of an altar. This altar is commonly known as an ofrenda, used by Mexican peoples to celebrate Día de Muertos, a tradition dating back to the Aztecs. The ofrenda is usually a table adorned with fine and colorful fabrics with offerings of fruits, cigarettes, candies and alcohol. Central to the display is usually pictures of deceased family members, represented in spirit. In the worship of Santa Muerte, the ofrenda takes the form of an idol. Usually one depicted as a woman wearing a hooded robe, carrying a scythe and a globe. Different color schemes will represent different virtues or aspects of the Holy Death. This symbology is largely borrowed from medieval Spanish mythology, but the ritual itself derives from pagan worship common to the Americas and across the world. The ofrenda dedicated to Santa Muerte with her statues also has offerings, believed as sacrifice in exchange for boons such as good luck or protection from harm. Dedicated practitioners will perform blood sacrifice rituals, using animals such as pigs and chickens. Human sacrifice is known, and relatively common where criminals practice the religion. They do this with a fierce and zealous belief that this can protect them from the schemes of their enemies, protect drug shipments crossing U.S. customs but above all else they use Santa Muerte as a spiritual tool to enforce cohesion of their organization. Fear has been a driving force for controlling and subduing individuals initiated into any secret society or ancient mystery school. So too does the modern incarnation of such phenomena use these tools to brainwash and dominate those who work below them in the hierarchy. Jesús Malverde, possibly born as Jesús Juarez Mazo, sometimes known as the "Cjuba Lord", "angel of the poor", or the "narco-saint", is a folklore hero in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. He was of Yoreme and Spanish heritage. He is a "Robin Hood" figure who was supposed to have stolen from the rich to give to the poor. Malverde is a popular Mexican folk saint known as the unofficial patron saint of drug traffickers. Malverde also is known as the "Generous Bandit" and the "Angel of the Poor," said Robert Almonte, a law enforcement consultant who has extensively researched the "narco-saint" phenomenon who gave presentations at the El Paso seminar. The Mexican folk saint is popular with those in the drug trade but "you have people who are not involved in criminal activity that pray to him as the Angel of the Poor," Almonte explained. Malverde is depicted with black hair, a black mustache and looks a little like Clark Gable with a neckerchief. He is sometimes depicted holding money. His image can be found on everything from religious figurines, votive candles, key chains and T-shirts. Malverde is not recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. The Malverde legends say he was a Mexican Robin Hood-type bandit who stole from the rich and gave to the poor in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the Pacific Coast state of Sinaloa. Sinaloa is the traditional fatherland for many groups in the region's drug trade that grew into the Mexican drug cartels. Drug traffickers adopted Malverde because they see themselves in the good-hearted bandit, Almonte said. “The Mexican cartels acknowledge 'we are doing a bad thing but more importantly we’re doing a bad thing for the right reasons; we’re helping the poor.' So, they adopted him as a patron saint," Almonte said. Almonte is a former U.S. marshal for the Western District of Texas and a retired deputy chief with the El Paso Police Department. He started researching saints revered by Mexican drug traffickers while working as a police narcotics officer in the 1980s. There is debate whether Juan Malverde ever actually existed. According to legends, Malverde was a bandit named Jesus Juárez Mazo, who wore green as camouflage to surprise and rob wealthy victims and would give to the poor in the mountains of Sinaloa. The Mexican government eventually caught Malverde and supposedly hanged him May 3, 1909. In the legend, miracles, such as finding lost objects, were attributed to Malverde. Believers pray to him for good luck, protection, health and other needs. The name Malverde is a combination of the Spanish words for "bad" (mal) and "green" (verde). By the 1970s, Mexican drug traffickers had adopted Malverde as their "patron saint," Almonte said. The legend of the folk saint was celebrated in ballads. "De Culiacan a Colombia, que viva Jesús Malverde, este santo del colgado que ha traido buena suerte," sang Los Cadetes de Linares on the "Corrido de Jesus Malverde." The ballad says, "From Culiacan to Colombia, long live Jesus Malverde, the hanged saint has brought good luck." Almonte said he first learned of Malverde in the early 1990s as belief in the folk saint spread deep into the United States. “I began noticing that not only was he popular along the Southwest border area, but I was getting officers in Minnesota, officers in Iowa, Wisconsin, telling me they are encountering Jesus Malverde in drug cases," Almonte said. USA PAISA PRISON CULTURE & PAISA GANGS This part of Paisa roleplay is often overlooked for some reason, but it can actually be the funnest experience you’ll ever have when it comes to Paisa roleplay. See the thing is, people see “Paisa” as a faction concept and automatically think about drug Cartel cells but don’t think about prison gangs or street gangs like the Border Brothers 22 prison gang, Barrio Azteca 21 prison gang, Paisa Tango prison gang, Varrio Paisa 5/Hill 22 street gang, Krazy Ass Paisas 16 street gang etc. But need not worry, I’m here to help you with that today! The first thing to do when looking at USA based Prison Organizations and Street Gangs is understand the fundamentals of it, and honestly? If you know how to roleplay Sureño, Norteño, Crip or Blood, then learning to roleplay a Paisa Street gang won’t be that hard. I won’t be writing how you should do gang roleplay here, because I’m sure there’s plenty of guides on the forums about that, instead I’m going to directly focus on what a Paisa Prison Organization or Street Gang is. The thing when it comes to Paisa Prison Organizations and Street Gangs is that you need to understand they don’t operate the same way most USA based Prison Organizations and Street Gangs do. Let me start off by explaining the USA Paisa Prison Organizations first, since it’ll get it out of the way and easier for you to understand one by one instead of me jumping back and forth nonstop between the both of them. Paisa (Mexican National) Prison Organizations in the United States of America are very different from your normal everyday Prison Organizations like the Aryan Brotherhood, Mexican Mafia, Nuestra Familia, Black Mafia Family, KUMI 415, Family Affiliated Irish Mafia etc. The reasoning behind this is because most of the inmates in State Penitentiaries and Federal Penitentiaries that rock the Paisa banner are immigrants that are locked up, or 1st/2nd generation Mexican-Americans with direct links to immigrants. Many organizations like the Paisa Tangos, Barrio Azteca 21, Border Brothers 22, Borrachos, etc were all formed by Mexican Nationals that came to the United States of America and ended up being locked up at either State or Federal level within the country. Although there’s a Paisa presence throughout the United States of America, the dominant presence is on the West Coast and Southern area of the United States as it’s where most ended up during lockup. Many Paisa Prison Organizations are also subsidiary drug distribution hubs for Cartels and are used on the outside with their individual crews to market and distribute narcotics at times. Paisa Prison Organizations, especially on the West Coast are usually allied and friendly with the Mexican Mafia due to cultural drives. Border Brothers Prison Gang The Border Brothers gang was founded in 1989 by Sergio Gonzalez-Martinez and others in Tijuana, Mexico and spread into San Andreas in 1990; recruiting criminal illegal immigrants in barrios across San Andreas, Arizona, Nevada, Denver and Tijuana Mexico. The organization runs the bulk of their operations through San Diego, Los Santos, Fresno and Oakland. The Border Brothers will often identify themselves through the letters BB or the number 22; as well as 2=B or XXII. It’s also not uncommon to see the depiction of a jaguar-shaped Aztec warrior god’s head, Ocelotl, encircled by flames, with eight elongated flames to depict their affiliation. Their clothing is another means to identify them, where members will most often dress in black or blue clothes, with bandanas. The Border Brothers are classified as one of the fastest growing STGs (Security Threat Groups), and are considered to have the highest and most validated members by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Re-entry from their latest report. As such, they seem to work under two distinct branches: street and prison. The prison gang operates under a paramilitary structure of President, Vice President, generals, lieutenants, sergeants and soldiers, whilst the street gangs are more loosely organized. Some of the most important things that separates Border Brothers from other Latino criminal organizations is their utilization of a high number of “Paisas”; Mexican Nationals who live or become incarcerated in the US, usually on drug trafficking charges across country borders. This allowed the organization to operate under the radar by generating less controversy compared to Sureños and Norteños. This is achieved by staying quiet in the criminal sphere, keeping strictly to themselves, only speaking Spanish and not claiming territory (Pogrebin, Qualitative Approaches to Criminal Justice: Perspectives from the Field, 2002, Page 306). In regard to race, an article published by East Bay Times (Scott Johnson, May 2011) states that the Border Brothers tend to accept people of all races. An “OG” (original gangster) Border Brother was documented stating the following: “We don’t discriminate, if they’re down to die for us, they’re welcome. It doesn’t matter if he’s black or white, anything. But if you turn your back on us, that’s another story.” Pogrebin also quotes another testimony stating the following: “The Border Brothers don’t want to have anything to do with Sureños-Norteños. They keep out of that ‘cause it’s not our fighting and all of that is stupid... Either you are a Chicano or you’re not. There is no sense of being separated (Case 3).” (Qualitative Approaches to Criminal Justice: Perspectives from the Field, 2002, Page 306) P16 Prison Gang The paisas 16 are mostly composed of Mexican Nationals who were arrested while crossing the border into the United States illegally. The majority of them are not into criminal activity in the West Coast but they do operate as a gang in Texas under the "Tango Mexicles" banner. In the union, members refer to themselves as "paisano" or just "paisa". Their affiliation is considered "light" (strictly to prison) and their initiation requirements vary from each facility. The gang was mainly formed to seek independence from what they perceived as "negative" prison gangs that operated under the "blood in-blood out" vision which states that the only way to leave the gang is by death. Although their major strength resides within the federal prison system of the United States, it is also believed that members from the "Mexicles Union" have presence in many other states and that their membership could go from 20,000 to 23,000 validated individuals. In the state of Texas they formed their own "Tango" chapter known as "Tango Mexicles" and a lot of its members are Salvadoran, Colombian, Guatemalan and Honduran amongst other Latin-Americans. The number 16 represents the letter P of the alphabet and members of the gang might wear some Mexican culture tattoos such as the Mexican eagle, the Mexican coat of arms or the "Hecho en México" (Made in Mexico) official commercial logo eagle as well as the portraits of Mexico's Independence heroes with the likes of Emiliano Zapata and Francisco Villa. PRM (Partido Revolucionario Mexicano) The PRM was founded in 1987-1988 in TDCJ’s Coffield Unit by six inmates who wanted to protect themselves from other offenders and prison groups. Until 1994, the PRM was comprised of only Mexican nationals and individuals of Mexican descent. After 1994, recruitment was opened to individuals of Latin descent from Central and South America. In July 2005, TDCJ formally identified the PRM as an STG. Members of the PRM identify themselves as “Borrachos.” The PRM tattoo often incorporates the letters "PRM" and/or the emblem on the Mexican flag (i.e., eagle, snake, cactus, and half wreath). The words "Estados Unidos Mexicanos" may be added above the eagle. The number “6” is a code number used to identify membership (Note: There are six letters in the word “Mexico” and “Mezcal”) and the tattoo “P31” is also used (“R” is the 18th letter of the alphabet and “M” is the 13th letter; thus “P” + 18 + 13 = P31). In addition, since the group has used the word “borracho” (Spanish for “drunk”) to denote membership, some members may bear a tattoo of a Mexican male sitting on the ground, wearing a sombrero tilted forward, with a bottle of Mezcal or Tequila in his hand or beside him. Tangos The Tangos are one of the fastest growing groups in Texas, both within the prison system and on the streets, and are attaining near fad status. The term “Tango” is derived from Spanish slang and indicates a “town or hometown clique”. The term also refers to the letter T in the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, commonly known as the NATO phonetic alphabet or the ICAO phonetic alphabet to indicate that the group operates in the whole of Texas. Membership is usually voluntary and based on the geographic location where the offender resides. The rules governing Tango membership are less stringent than those required for STGs, which have historically adhered to a “blood in-blood out” philosophy. Tangos also abide by an existing set of basic written rules that specifically outline the expectations of their members. The Tangos and their behavior within the prison system are more consistent with other self-protection groups; however, the Tangos have also evolved into groups that, because of their large numbers, have successfully challenged the more established STGs. Presently, TDCJ’s Security Threat Group Management Office monitors the Tango groups, but does not recognize them as a validated STG. The four largest Tango groups, known collectively as the “Four Horsemen,” are “Houstone” from Houston; “D-Town” from Dallas; “Foritos” from Fort Worth; and “ATX” or “Capirucha” from Austin. Other Tango groups include the “Vallucos” from the Rio Grande Valley; the West Texas Tangos (WTX) from West Texas and the Texas Panhandle; “Corpitos” from Corpus Christi; “San Anto” or “Orejones” from San Antonio; and “EPT” from El Paso. Some Tangos may also identify themselves as being “Tango Blast” (TB), which is not so much a separate organization as it is an indication that the offender has participated in heightened criminal activity on behalf of the organization. The term “blasting” refers to involvement in violent or disruptive criminal behavior against other gang members or criminal justice personnel, particularly inside the Texas prison system. Most Tangos who claim TB membership come from the Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston areas. Tango structure and leadership vary in and out of prison. Within the prison system, Tangos elect a representative for each unit, known as a “Spokesman,” as well as a designated speaker for each pod, wing, or dorm who reports directly to the Spokesman. Outside of prison, the Tango groups appear to be more loosely organized. They operate in small groups and cells without a well-defined structure or identified leader. Tangos are involved in a variety of criminal activity, including auto theft, burglaries, narcotics trafficking, illegal alien smuggling, home invasions, robberies, kidnappings, and homicide—all offenses that have historically been committed by STGs. Furthermore, as a result of technological advancements and easier access to automated information, law enforcement can expect to see an increase in a wide variety of computer-related crimes by the newer and technologically-savvy gang members, including identity theft, fraud, and other financial crimes. The Internet has also provided gangs an avenue of communication and self-promotion that has not been available to them in the past. With the younger generation’s increasing attraction to living the “Thug Life” or becoming a “G,” these groups will continue to pose a legitimate threat to the public, law enforcement, and criminal justice personnel at all levels. Tango members can be identified by their tattoos, which usually depict a hometown sports team and/or the team logo, a city skyline, area code numbers representing their hometowns, or the slang term for their hometown. Tangos who claim to be TB members may also use the tattoo “16-20-2” to represent the 16th, 20th, and 2nd letters of the alphabet, or “PTB,” which stands for “Puro Tango Blast.” The Paisa Tango Mexicles was formed in the Texas prison system by a group of Mexican nationals and immigrants who banded together to protect themselves from being recruited or assaulted by other STGs. Although members of this gang may be tattooed with the word “Mexicle” or “Mexicles,” the term is not used exclusively by them. The word “Mexicle” is a term used to describe a Mexican citizen and thus is sometimes found in tattoos worn by members of other gangs, such as the Partido Revolucionario Mexicano (PRM). The next one is Paisa (Mexican National) Street Gangs in the United States of America. This is a very complex subject to touch on, mainly because gangs like Sureños, Norteños, Crips and Bloods all have Paisas as members internally, so what I’m going to do here is touch on overall Paisa Street Gangs like Varrio Paisa 5/Hill 22, Krazy Ass Paisas 16 and such. See alongside your standard Mexican-American street gangs, African-American street gangs and Asian-American street gangs, you also have Latin-American street gangs that exist in the United States of America, Mexican Nationals being the dominant membership most of the time inside of these street gangs. They’re normally used at street level for Paisa Prison Organizations and drug Cartels, to either distribute drugs at street level or handle USA based hits and such. There’s not many Paisa Street gangs that actually exist, at least to my knowledge, so it the concept in itself is quite rare and underrated as it’s often overlooked when Street Gang roleplay is considered. Paisa Street Gangs typical are a hybrid of organized crime and street crime mixed into one, sort of like Armenian Power 13 (Although using AP13 as an example can be taken the wrong way, as they’re more of a Mob) / Mara Salvatrucha 13 if you were to use it as a comparison, since they’re kind of deemed a street gang by the authorities, but their main drive is organized criminal activities in the end. But all in all, when they hit the yard, they claim Paisa and run Paisa. USA BASED PAISA PLENIPOTENTIARIES There are many different transnational criminal organizations operating with the cartels who constitute their own transnational criminal organizations. Some of these include Mexican street gangs who have migrated across the U.S. border to make their smuggling activities independant. These include the Paisas, Border Brothers and the Xalisco Boys. The latter are very well known for having revolutionized the drug retail business for such organizations, providing cheap prescription medication, heroin and other narcotics without the use of open air drug markets, instead delivering directly to the customer. This allowed the Xalisco Boys to spread across many states. Although the Xalisco Boys are somewhat more complicated, as not all of them are deemed to be Paisanos and operate under the Paisa banner, in fact it's quite the opposite where many of the USA based Xalisco Boys; especially in California, tend to fall in line with Californian chapter of the Mexican Mafia (EME). While some started as street or prison gangs under a cartel's control, most have evolved to enjoy a great level of autonomy and even independence. The native peoples of Nueva Leon have historically had no such ties, all street gangs and competition is dominated and absorbed first by the Zetas, then the Cartel de Noreste. Most cartels provide their own drug trafficking, loading vehicles in their home regions and ferrying them through U.S points of entry along the border, or have it shipped out of Mexican ports. They also employ the street/prison gangs to facilitate this, the dual-citizenship of many newer members from the United States serving them well in crossing border checkpoints. For example, while the prison gang Border Brothers (22) operate a huge network of smugglers, distributors and retailers across the entirety of California working as a pipeline for the Arellano-Félix Organization, they also provide the same to the Sinaloa factions while retaining their own independence. The past decade has shown how important border towns such as El Paso, Nogales and Tijuana are for the larger Mexican cartels such as the Jalisco Cartel, Noreste cartel and the Sinaloa cartel. From these places they flood the local markets of BB, BA and Sureno street gangs among many more with high quality heroin, cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamines. Although outdated, this map is a perfect representation of how drug routes are intended to work And how cartels have areas of influence. Direct cartel operations and business in the United States is run according to hub-and-spoke principles, where all product comes across the border to a centralized warehouse or network, this is the hub. From there it is distributed out towards individual actors or satellite organizations within the U.S. operation like the Border Brothers gang. This is known as a spoke, where it is further distributed to customers. Proceeds travel back through the same channels, arriving at the hub. These hubs are frequently located on the U.S. side of the border, in places like Los Angeles, Chicago and El Paso. Other important hubs for the largest players are Phoenix, Houston, Miami, and Atlanta. The key to their success and longevity has been to follow the same sophisticated routines for a long time. All major places of import relies on these cartel controlled cities, ideally situated on a hub of intersecting interstates like the I-10 or the I-65. This combined with their extreme levels of discretion while operating in the U.S. has allowed them to continue using the same hubs for decades. While there are instances Mexican groups take their extreme violence to the public eye like the kidnappings in San Diego by Los Palillos, who started their life under the Tijuana cartel but split after the murder of their leader El Palillo, this remains extremely rare. In most, if not all cases this type of behavior leads to the downfall of all involved. The threat all cartels come under by being labeled narco-terrorists is something resting heavily on the minds of every individual involved. The few who get away with this behavior are exclusively part of low level street gang activity, who partake in this seemingly ever increasing phenomenon of gun violence. Likewise, it is extremely rare for an organized, involved individual to engage police in gun battle. This will generally only ever happen in moments of severe desperation, as a last ditch effort for their leaders to escape apprehension. Lower profile members might sporadically have confrontations with law enforcement but this usually results in that person's death or large scale manhunts that make it impossible to operate within any semblance of society. When it comes to the United States of America and groups operating under Cartel banners to actively distribute narcotics, launder money, transport money, smuggle people in and smuggle weapons back to Mexico, there’s a huge list of subsidiary plenipotentiaries inside of the United States of America. The biggest thing to remember when it comes to USA based plenipotentiaries though is, most of the operatives inside of that USA based group aren’t official members of the Cartel itself that’s located in Mexico but instead use their name to advertise and market as a strategy for Narconomic Development. Los Tigres (AFO/CAF) Los Chapitos (CDS) La Linea (NCDJ) Border Brothers 22 (AFO/CDS) Barrio Azteca Vieja Escuela (CDS) Barrio Azteca Nuevo Escuela (NCDJ) Grupo Ensenada (AFO/CAF) Tango (CDN/NCDJ/CDG) PRM (CDS/CDN) WHAT IS A PLENIPOTENTIARY? Plenipotentiaries are basically sub-factors of Cartels from Mexico, that mainly operate in foreign land such as the European and American continent. In the late 2010's they became really popular factors for Cartels to distribute narcotics across the foreign nations, and in the U.S.A especially. Normally plenipotentiaries are made up of countless different crews under one major dominant cell inside of a state. The dominant cell's leader acts as a representative and spokesperson between the plenipotentiary and the Cartel in Mexico itself, and may not always hold direct membership to the Cartel they're distributing for. That's a common misunderstanding, that you get "made" into a Cartel in Mexico and distribute for them. This isn't true, the plenipotentiaries in the U.S.A might use the Cartel's banner name as a way to conduct business since it may hold weight, but 95% of the time the operatives in that plenipotentiary aren't members at all. PLENIPOTENTIARIES ONLY RECRUIT MEXICANS: There's a common misunderstanding that you must roleplay Mexican inside of a Narco cell that's U.S.A based. This couldn't be further from the truth, in fact quite the opposite... a lot of lower ranking operatives in the U.S.A may be of white, black, Asian, and Middle-eastern descent. Now of course the main core of the membership will consist of Mexicans, but roleplaying non-Mexican isn't far fetched aslong as your character doesn't want to rise above middle-management as that's probably the highest they'd ever achieve. AMERICA IS AMERICA, NOT MEXICO! What I mean by this is that people need to stop acting like it's Mexico. Narco operatives who operate in the U.S.A fear one thing more than getting punished by Mexican Cartels themselves, and that fear? Going to prison in the U.S.A. On LSRP's SAMP server I constantly seen people carrying guns like a gang-banger, acting reckless etc. Look, I'ma be real... traffickers rarely carry firearms. They might have something in their house, or car, or may carry when there's high tension with another group but definitely won't carry just to carry as it's too risky if they're pulled over n stop searched for no reason. Normally there's a dedicated security crew internally in plenipotentiaries that handle all of that. Another thing is openly fighting on the streets, this is a no go. You might have rival cells go head-to-head once in a blue moon in the U.S.A, but they won't be shooting down the street with M4A1s and wasting 5 magazines, dumping them into bodies. If and when rival narco groups go to war in the U.S.A (which bare in mind is very rare), they'll treat it like any Mob hit and do it clean and fast and out of sight. But wars shouldn't happen like that anyways, because the whole point of U.S.A plenipotentiary roleplay is operating as shadow operatives under the radar. Another thing that should be understood is Cartel Cells/Plenipotentiaries in the U.S.A might be distributing on behalf of a Mexican Cartel, but in the end they're in foreign land and aren't the final say there. If a Cartel Cell is operating in California for example, chances are their people are going to serve time with the Southerner Car (Mexican Mafia) essentially. Border Brothers 22 prison gang run in chapters by state, but in California all BBs serve with the Sur Car (Not to be mistaken with Oakland BBs as they're two different things). What I'm saying is, don't big dick a Security Threat Group (STG) that by right has claim to that area of influence. FEMALES IN THE NARCO UNDERWORLD Being a female in a male dominated environment can often be challenging, and sometimes almost impossible depending on the environment at hand. The topic for this part, as you can see, is females in the narco underworld, and hopefully after reading this thoroughly you’ll understand a lot more about the complexity of the topic. To start off? We’ll start talking about mannerisms and attitude and how they affect the outcome of situations, meaning we’ll talk about the way females must act. See the thing is there has been females to reach a Narco queenpin status, but it’s very rare and you know why? Because the mannerisms greatly affect the way people see you, judge you and react to you. Not to generalize a gender, but most females don’t make it to that status because they can’t get past the first step of what I’m going to mention here. When you’re a female in the Narco underworld, you must carry yourself a certain way so as to get looks from people but also not too much looks. You need to be seen as serious, fierceless and business oriented. The issue is, not many females end up meeting this requirement and most end up being messengers or sicarias (hitwomen) as they don’t have a business oriented mindset with serious driven fierceless mindsets jammed into one big comprehension. You need to be able to sit down at a negotiation and get a perfect first impression off someone, put them into a mindset of aw-ness, if you can’t do that then you’ve already failed. Another thing I've seen with female characters in Narco concepts is, a lot of them seem to be very sexual and overly feminine. This is a very controversial topic as some might take it the wrong way, but I hate to break it to you it’s the only way to say it; roleplaying your character being overly sexual and feminine is horrendous and abysmal portrayal for someone chasing a queenpin like outcome on their character. You need to remember the Narco underworld is a male dominated environment, if there’s any hint of sluttery or whoreness from your character? You risk being seen as a plaything and not taken seriously. But being too manly can also fuck it up, as you need to meet a perfect middle ground to perfectly fit that title. Most females who’ve risen to positions of power and influence in the Narco underworld, typically end up being some of the cold hearted women you’ll ever come across as they must be twice as ruthless as the men to gain respect, but also must be business oriented to keep that respect as you can’t be seen as a violent female purely, otherwise you’re no different than a hitwoman. Next we’ll talk about fashion/dress-code, looks and emotions. This is by far something I see people always messing up with, you’d think it’d be pretty obvious but to some people it isn’t. Dressing too hoodrattish and slutty can both fuck up your chances of being taken seriously, so you must find a middle ground. It means don’t wear shit like you’re gangbanging, but don’t expose too much skin and wear stripper heels because then you’re seen as a hoe. You must dress to impress, but must also keep it toned down and stuff, best way to describe it is contemporary Western attire, business casual attire or business attire fully. You could also dress in a Buchóna fashion, which is contemporary Western attire mixed with business attire and sometimes dark vibrance attire. I’m sure you’ll find the fashion style if you research it on the internet for long enough. As for looks and emotions, I don’t like restricting character development and roleplay but honestly? Don’t overdo it with tattoos either, normally people of influence in the Narco underworld don’t even have tattoos that are exposed like that. As for emotions, I get females can get very emotional at times, but you shouldn’t… under any circumstance, show dramatic emotions publicly, it can completely ruin your reputation. You need to be levelheaded, clear minded and relaxed at almost all times. SUMMARY The summary for the guide is essentially that everything basic has been run through rather in-depth but short and straight to the point. If you knew some things said on this guide, then it shows you did your research, but we’re most definitely positive that you’ve read this and came away with learning something new that you didn’t know before. The guide was a joint-op written by @Freedom Fighter, @Nuke and @EGN. Considering not many guides on Paisa roleplay have been made, it’s understandable in the end as not many people have a lot of in-depth modernized information on the topic. We figured we should share our information and knowledge with the community to help better people who’re interested in learning about the concept! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zhQA8v-FFk-6SsChn498gC3fAcPGaRu5R1-W69UX2jQ/edit?usp=sharing

Serbian Transnational Criminal Organizations The Serbians? Some say they are back on track, while others say they are long gone. Transnational organized crime is coordinated across national borders, involving groups or markets of individuals working in more than one country to plan and execute illegal business ventures. In order to achieve their goals, these criminal groups use systematic violence and corruption. Common transnational organized crime activities include conveying drugs, weapons, trafficking for sex, toxic waste disposal, materials theft, and poaching. Serbian TCOs are politically and financially motivated groups that are responsible for causing significant financial harm to the United States each year. Unlike traditional organized crime groups, they tend to operate around ethnic associations and friendship ties. They also appear to be more agile, organic, and project-based. Serbian TCOs are adept at adopting new technological methods to enhance their illicit activities, thus increasing their ability to expand their criminal market base through cyber-enabled fraud. These groups engage in a myriad of illegal ventures including passport fraud, access device fraud, identity theft, healthcare fraud, real estate fraud, insurance fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking, human smuggling, prostitution, and extortion. Organized crime in the Balkans has its roots in the traditional clan structures. In these largely rural countries, people organized into clans with large familial ties for protection and mutual collaboration. Starting in the 15th century, clan relationships operated under the kanun, or code, which values loyalty and besa, or secrecy. Each clan established itself in specific territories and controlled all activities in that territory. The protection of activities and interests often lead to violence between the clans. The elements inherent in the structure of the clans provided the perfect backbone for what is considered modern-day Balkan organized crime. Many years of communist rule led to black market activities in the Balkans, but the impact of these activities was limited to the region. When communism collapsed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it led to the expansion of Balkan organized crime activities. Criminal markets once closed to Balkan groups suddenly opened, and this led to the creation of an international network. Within the Balkans, organized crime groups infiltrated the new democratic institutions, further expanding their profit opportunities. Balkan criminal organizations have been active in the U.S. since the mid-1980s. At first, these organizations were involved in low-level crimes, including bank robberies, ATM burglaries, and home invasions. Later, ethnic Albanians and Serbians affiliated themselves with the established LCN families in New York, acting as low-level participants. As their communities and presence have become more established, they have expanded to lead and control their own organizations, spreading across multiple states. There is no single Balkan “Mafia” structured hierarchically like the traditional La Cosa Nostra (LCN). Rather, Balkan organized crime groups transcended their clan-like structure to the United States. They are not clearly defined or organized and are instead grouped around a central leader or leaders. Organized crime figures maintain ties back to the Balkan region and have established close-knit communities in many cities across the nation.

Redouane Bouziane was raised and born on the streets of Casablanca, Morocco. His boyhood was forged out between the rhythm of the medina and the shadowy specter of the street hustle. The world never gave him much, so he made do with what he had with the cards he held... quick mouth, silver tongue, and hard heart when it suited him. Redouane had moved at 16, his family along with him, to the Netherlands in search of a brighter life. But European streets, though, weren't actually all that different from what he was accustomed to... cleaner, quieter only. Soon enough, he ended up in the underground scene, taking part-time jobs for the local gangs before his name started ringing in the ears of the authorities. Before long, Redouane was completely enveloped in the life of the Mocro Maffia. With time, Redouane climbed ranks... fast. His record was impeccable: reliable, discreet, ruthless when the occasion demanded. When a high-risk braquage (heist) opportunity arose, he was chosen. The job was brazen, dangerous, and risky... just the sort of thing he enjoyed. And it paid off big. The gang got away with more than they could count. But while most were basking in the glory, Redouane was making plans to leave. He knew the heat would come. It always did. With a phony passport, and burner phone. Redouane vanished from the Dutch radar... straight into the smoky horizon of Los Santos. In Los Santos, it wasn't long before he met a face he knew. Achraf Lamari, a face familiar to the Moroccan underworld, now a high-ranking member of a rising DTO known as Conexion Casablanca. Their encounter was uneventful... but behind it, years of trust and dirt built on silence and survival. Redouane wasn't in need of being persuaded. Blood money and a new city to inherit, he entered into a completely new game.

The deer sanctuary has hit San Andreas and set up in Flint County! In aid of the cause we have a Christmas inn and a winter forest for you to explore on site! Merry Christmas!

The Valenti Crime Family has done more for the server than the server has done for the faction.

Although not as territorial as other gangs, the skinheads have presence in the area. Members can be found on Ambrose Street and Oak Hill Road, as well as local trailer parks. They tend to be more mobile than other gangs in the area. The crime they commit revolves around the manufacturing and distribution of crystal methamphetamine. It's the number one choice drug for all white gangs. Other hardcore drugs such as heroin are also prevalent. Assaults, burglaries, and robberies are other common activities. Anything which is deemed worthy of solidifying the gang's reputation, is carried out by the members.

February 9 - Hailing it as a turning point in Santa Maria's effort to combat gang violence, the LSPD on Friday morning announced that they had captured six convicted members of a West Los gang for a string of murders and robberies that included their rival gang. The suspects were involved in the few homicides that have been continuously occurring these past years, as well as several attempted homicides and numerous drive-by shootings on rivals that began more than a decade ago, Police Chief stated. The District Attorney's office, Police Chief Michael Casuso stated during a press conference, that hard work has been helping their campaign against gang violence. "The numerous amount of shootings and murders engaged in by the suspects in this case are acts of severe depravity that have terrorized large parts of our community for many years," Chief of Police told the top city officials, TV news crews reports that they have gathered around in the city council chambers. SANTA MARIA PEQUENO LOCOS 13 Santa Maria 13, also known widely as the 17th Street Gang by the locals, is the ruthless gang to spring up in Santa Maria many decades ago. Varrio Pequeno Locos (VPLS) a Sureño clique predominantly composed of young and old Latino-Americans in the area have been terrorizing the streets of Santa Maria for years. Residents claim that the gang has been expanding limitlessly without a doubt, Members stay active through gang activities such as robberies, shootings and sale of narcotics. The roots of the gang goes back to the early 1920s and the zoot zuits also known as the pachuchos. They have been seen to claim their own unique style differing to other Sureños, often featuring black rags. In 1957, when the Mexican Mafia grew throughout the state prisons throughout San Andreas, had noticed the growth of the Santa Maria 13 gang and had sent out their associates to setup a meeting with the shot callers of the gang. Rene Navarro at the time being one of the dominant shot callers had agreed to adopt the trece and pledge alliance to the Mexican Mafia for a deal that consisted a heavy amount of weapons and drugs.

Made with love, enjoy!

Redouane stands at 6’1” with a clean, athletic frame and a sharp, no-nonsense presence. His skin is olive-toned, with a smooth face and subtle street-hardened edges. A tight fade frames his black hair, cleanly styled, and his eyebrows are thick and expressive over focused brown eyes. He keeps it simple but sharp, always crisp, paired with Nike TNs or Air Max 95s. No tattoos. Just that quiet confidence of someone who's seen too much and says little.

Trentino hit the crux of the issue here, and also landed the nail on the head. We are a small server with a dedicated population that is only here for a very, very minute host of reasons. In my case, it is that I am unwilling to run GTA: V and have no interest in moving to another server, nor will I. We are a gasping-breath dying breed, granted, but that doesn't mean we should go out in geriatric fumbling for our oxygen tanks and wondering what went wrong or if we could have salvaged this opportunity. We may not attract the array of new roleplayers that LS-RP used to, but we can lock down the old and those willing to take the plunge into something serious and, in my opinion, wholly awesome. Though our playerbase is low in comparison to past eras, it has cultivated a symbiotic criminal and faction-based ecosystem that I, as a roleplayer, have been chasing for over a decade now. I have been on the same account since LS-RP reopened and have used that time to cultivate IC relationships with a host of factions and independent roleplayers, that encompass the legal and illegal worlds and those that blur the lines between the two. The venture-specific, based-on-criminal-merit-and-modus-operandi archetype is something that has never entered the realm of IC materialization as well as it has right now. I am experiencing some of the best roleplay I've had on the server since 2008 at this exact moment. Each and every character that exists on LS-RP right now serves a purpose, or is working towards doing so. Every niche, no matter how small it may be, is a niche that deserves to be filled. The administration have done a great job of removing trolls that are not working towards this goal. To personify this, I have not been robbed in-game by those that aren't here to roleplay in the manner of past eras in months. To continue to foster this ecosystem, the importance of managing factions is of utmost importance. This does not constitute micromanagement of factions, but instead should consist of supporting factions that present good ideas and good roleplay and, thus, allowing them the space to succeed in their endeavors, or in their failure attempting to do so in-game. The reality of this quagmire is that we need to cater to our current playerbase. We do not need 700 factions, but instead a world where 700 micro-factions exist built off the backing of existing factions and their connections to these factions paving the way to success. There is no good way to encourage players to only join factions instead of creating their own, but it is not necessary, regardless, as it can never be feasibly attained. The illegal faction base is one of the strongest I've seen to date and I count myself as one of the lucky players to have helped so many long-standing official factions of the past to success, and still, we are looking better than ever in my eyes. Kudos to our current administration on making this a reality. You all deserve more thanks than you will ever receive, but you can count me amongst the utmost thankful in your creating this environment wherein roleplayers like me are able to succeed and develop characters in the manner we have been allowed to by good management. To the rest of you hanging off the fence, asking if you should leave, hop off my nuts and go. Hang from them, because they sag low at my age. Sharif Reynolds said it best. If you're asking if I'm arsed, I'm not, but you're negatively impacting a server that should be allowed to succeed with every factor already existing against it without your comments. We don't need your "dead LS-RP" comments, but instead constructive collaboration on how we can make a run of this server until it can't run any further. When this server dies, so, too, do a lot of good roleplayers. I have nothing but the utmost confidence in this server and all that it's brought to the table. This era of administration has the whole world before them to be the best I've ever seen and are actively working towards this goal before our very eyes.

Philip Arditi: A Sunset Tale Philip Arditi wasn’t born into the life—but by the time he hit his late thirties, the straight world had shut its doors, and the street opened its arms. He was older than most when he started, no kid chasing thrills. He just needed to make a living, and he found a way selling booze for a guy named Peter Belotti. Belotti ran a small outfit out of the West Side, sharp suits and sharp temper. The kind of man who shook your hand and sized up your pulse in the same second. He took a liking to Philip—not because he was loud or flashy, but because he got things done without asking dumb questions. Philip didn’t go it alone. With him from the jump were Henry Graziani and Joseph Calabrese—two guys you’d want on your side when the truck breaks down at midnight or when someone’s sniffing around who shouldn’t be. Henry was the brawler, never looked for a fight but never ran from one. Joseph? Smooth talker. Knew every dock boss, warehouse gatekeeper, and bartender worth knowing. They weren’t soldiers. They were brothers in the dirt. Together, they built a quiet little empire in the liquor game—cash flowing, books cooked clean, no heat. Then came trouble, like it always does. Michael “Iron Mike” Niovale ran a crew out of Sunset Avenue. Not a big boss, not some citywide don—just a hard-nosed neighborhood guy with a loyal circle and a short fuse. He heard about Philip’s setup, the money coming in, the pawnshop downtown moving more than just watches and wedding rings. Iron Mike got curious. Word came down the line—Mike was offering fifteen grand to Belotti to “take Arditi off his hands.” A polite way of saying: He’s ours now. Philip heard about it through the usual whispers. Instead of panicking, he played it cool. Talked to Henry and Joseph. They didn’t flinch. They'd seen enough backroom deals to know this wasn’t just about booze. This was about muscle, pride, territory. Then came the pitch from Niovale’s side: turn on Belotti. Blackmail him. Sell him out and walk into the Sunset crew like nothing happened. Thing is, Philip wasn’t built like that. He might’ve worked the street, but he had a code—and Peter Belotti, for all his faults, had never crossed him. So Philip played the hand different. He went to Belotti, told him everything. No games. Belotti didn’t get mad—he got focused. He introduced Philip to Frank Baldi and Anthony Ulino, two men with deep roots and no patience for Sunset-level headaches. Together, they put a plan in motion. Philip fed Niovale just enough to keep him cocky. Then, when the moment was right, they sold him and his number two, Philip Dentino, out. Not to the cops—no, this was street justice. Doors closed on Sunset Avenue. Trucks stopped rolling. The bars and parlors went dark. Iron Mike's name stopped carrying weight. By the end of it, Niovale and his crew were out—quietly pushed off Sunset like smoke on a breeze. Belotti held Downtown. Philip? He’d earned his place at the table. And Henry and Joseph were right there with him, same as they’d always been. They weren’t legends. Just men who knew how to survive in a world where loyalty was rare, and betrayal was easy. But in the right hands, even Sunset Avenue could be the stage for something bigger. The Story of Anthony "Tony Chips" Chiappetta Early Days on Graham Avenue: Anthony Chiappetta was born and raised in the heart of Graham Avenue, a neighborhood that raised him with grit, hustle, and loyalty. School didn't last forever for Tony — after his parents fell on hard times and couldn’t afford to send him to college, he dropped out and started stacking cash the hard way. He saved every dollar he could, and before long, Anthony Chiappetta bought himself a yellow cab, entering the streets as a full-time cab driver. It was honest work — for a while. Stepping In With Screwie: Cab driving gave Tony eyes on the city, ears on the street, and the kind of reputation that caught the attention of Phillip Dentino, known in the neighborhood as Screwie. He’d known Screwie since he was a kid — one of those neighborhood uncles who always had an eye on who was coming up next. Tony, who respectfully called Screwie "uncle", started doing some frontline work for him. He ran lines from the payphones to the block, setting up small moves at first — packages, drops, messages. Then came the bigger jobs: drugs, guns, hot cars, protection rackets — the kind of work that needed someone calm, precise, and invisible. As Screwie's influence grew, so did Tony's reputation for his solid work. His network stretched out through the Graham Avenue associates, and Tony Chips became known for keeping his mouth shut, his hands moving, and his business clean — well, clean enough. Climbing the Ranks: As Screwie's street lieutenant, Tony Chips started rubbing shoulders with heavier names in the city's criminal web. That’s when he met Michael Niovale, Screwie’s crew boss, a big face with bigger plans. Tony’s professionalism — his smooth handling of volatile situations and his almost flawless track record — got him closer to both Screwie and Michael. Everyone knew Tony Chips could handle heat. He wasn’t flashy, didn’t run his mouth, didn’t step out of line. He kept the trains running on time, and the bosses noticed. Tony was no longer just a street-level guy — he was part of the machinery. Going Solo Again: But power breeds tension. Over time, cracks formed between Michael Niovale, Screwie, and other players in the organization. Turf disagreements, cash disputes, old grudges — all of it boiled over. In the fallout, Tony Chips didn’t take sides. He did what he always did: kept his head down, stayed loyal to the street, and walked his own line. With the old alliances broken, Tony was back on his own, still working and still respected in his own right. The Ace Connection: It wasn’t long before Anthony Chiappetta reconnected with an old contact: Adam Mora, better known as Ace. Ace was a shot-caller with his own network, and Tony Chips — with his years of street knowledge, connections, and calm hand — was a valuable ally. Together, they reignited the flame, and Tony stepped back into the organized crime world, doing what he’d always done — but smarter, slicker, and with more power behind his name again. The Legit Side: "CCC - Chiappetta’s Choice of Cars" Today, Tony Chips walks both sides of the line. He still runs the streets, still has his ear in the alleys and his hand in the hustle. But he's also a businessman now. His used car dealership, "CCC – Chiappetta's Choice of Cars", is a local staple. It moves vehicles — some clean, some with stories — and more importantly, it keeps the IRS off his back. With washed money, clean titles, and a professional front, Tony Chiappetta runs a legit operation that feeds his criminal empire. Legacy of the Streets: From the old corners of Graham Avenue to the newer corners of Sunset Avenue, the name Tony Chips still carries weight. They know the cabs, the deals, the connections, the cars, and the quiet power he holds. Tony Chips is the kind of guy that never had to shout to get what he wanted — he just had to show up. And even now, as he balances street respect and legal legitimacy, Anthony Chiappetta is one thing above all else: a survivor — calm, calculated, and still calling the shots.

Thank you for all the interest shown so far. I do want to point out that this adjustment does not mean joining will now all of a sudden be easy. We strive to roleplay everything realistically IC and recruitment is no exception. In fact, much of Valenti's success across all eras can be attributed to our stringent recruitment/progression process; delayed gratification has worked wonders for us in many other facets as well and will continue to be foundational to our success. There are other LCN factions where you can simply have an Italian name, ask for a drink and they'll hire you to do dirty work, but that won't cut it here. Working your way in will still require the ability to portray a realistic character, creativity, and patience. It's no secret our activity has been below peak levels for a while now and the server as a whole isn't as lively as it once was, so we felt a public Discord channel is an appropriate move for the time being. We're giving you a few nuggets on where and when you can find us to make joining a little more convenient, but it's on you to plan a realistic character and find your own pathway into the faction from there. In regards to the recent decline in activity: don't worry about it. All factions experience peaks and valleys when it comes to activity and ours are unavoidable due to our memberbase being much older than the average faction and increasingly pulled away from the game due to real life responsibilities. The beauty of Valenti, though, is that it's very rare that people ever leave the faction; they'll take a break from roleplaying and return home when they have time to get back into the game. Our ability to retain players over long periods of time is simply second to none and rest assured myself and countless other Valenti loyalists will return home when we have the time. We have experienced far greater activity slumps in the past and rebounded to incredible heights; I have no doubt that will happen again. All that to say: don't let our recent slip in activity deter you from joining, but rather look at it as a prime window of opportunity. The inactivity currently is at the associate level, which means naturally there will be a higher demand for manpower and more room for characters to advance than in many previous eras. That doesn't mean it will be quick or easy but now is certainly a great time to get involved if you'd like to make your mark on our historic storyline. With that said, I hope this adjustment dispells the misconception that we are a closed club full of elitists and don't want anyone to join because that couldn't be further from the truth. This is the Mafia; our exclusive nature IC is self explanatory, but on an OOC basis we are thrilled to have new people join. We may or may not be as engaging as other factions are in their Discord channels, but we are also cognizant of creating an immersive roleplaying environment IC with no OOC strings attached. Every single one of us was new to this faction at one point and we can all speak to how helpful the faction and its members were in developing us as roleplayers. Valenti has lasted so long because it's always been a breeding ground for the best LCN roleplayers and we are looking forward to seeing the next generation emerge and helping them along the way. Just two cents from the dead boss. Keep up the great work everyone.

I'll piggy back on Martin and Michael and more or less just echo what they're saying. I haven't spent nearly as much time as them, but I still think I brought a lot to the table, but my experience was already the same as theirs. I add one thing and it's all fine for a day or two, then it's back to "priorities are wrong!", "that's useless!", "what about us?!", etc. Nothing that will be added will be sufficient for anyone, but even so, we're playing on a script that has been maintained for over a decade, there won't be any game changing features that will change how you play or experience the game at this point. I remember Kane working hard as fuck some years ago adding new stuff left and right, and everyone seems to have suddenly forgotten about all those contributions as if they never happened and it's now impossible to roleplay on the server. It's left to the community to get together and form what LS-RP used to be and keep it running, but everyone is busy complaining at management and each other. Nothing will be done at this rate and we're headed to a rapid descent. I'm not saying that as in "we're destined to fail" but rather as a wake up call to get together and actually play the game to enjoy the game. There's definitively a possibility of turning the descent around, but it won't happen with all the negativity that the community is orbiting around. If you don't think it's possible to "save" the community, one has to ask what the fuck you are still doing here complaining.

SPECIAL THANKS To the SADCR and all prison factions who contributed to the environment. Though it went inactive, it heavily helped my character development and think everyone that had a part deserves a kudos for giving it a shot. Short lived, but was fun while it lasted. For whoever is asking, Hunter got arrested on 1/AUG/2024, that's almost 2 months and a half in prison though the last bit was inactive due to the state of server. If you're interested in Black Car prison RP, get more information here: BLACK CAR PRISON THREAD

I think it was around 2016, that I was first allowed to test a new script in a leadership capacity. Bare in mind, this was well before any of us had read the writing on the wall, and we were still rosy cheeked enough to legitimately believe that this was going to be the first addition of many, certifying Mmartin as a capable lead developer. I don't think Bay Area had happened yet, and GTA:W / GTA:5 roleplay was little more than quiet whispers in Skype calls. When I look at the current state of affairs, I'm brought back to those moments. Broken promises, missed deadlines, empty reassurances, and little regard for the brunt that the rest of staff had to bear for all of it. Reading admin posts is like looking in a mirror. The blind defense of a man who really doesn't give a fuck about you or anything else is something you'll really only ever understand when you're sitting in that seat. If I had to guess, it comes from a place of passion for the game. If I had to warrant another, the snarky attitude is misplaced frustration with Mmartin. Trust me, they know. They hate him too. I think it's plainly obvious that everybody still here is here for a love of the game, and a love for the community. If you would spare me just a moment of your time, I'd ask you to really think about what made LS:RP what it was. What is it you loved, what made it fun, what kept you coming back for more? If I could dare to get even more abstract: what was LS:RP? • LS:RP was us. You, me, and every other person who made a contribution to this game. Every administrator, every tester, every player, every faction, and every shred of effort that a group of likeminded, infinitely creative and impassioned players and friends alike had made across 12+ years. LS:RP was the community, and the infinite potential every one of us saw that the game could be, and came together with our combined imaginations to make it so. Feel free to disagree individually with any of my points, but I guarantee you every single one of them is a cherished memory to somebody here: • LS:RP was staying up till 3:00a.m with your friends, making a faction thread for the sheer fun of it; • LS:RP was Chete's MS13, revolutionizing the concept of factions, introducing hundreds of us to gang role play (including myself); • LS:RP was pioneers of inventive types of role play, like Shah of Persia, and R. Hout, who never stopped pushing the limit on exploring new concepts; • LS:RP was incredible individual character stories, curated on the screenshots & videos forum as a quiet time capsule of days past; • LS:RP was logging onto stunting servers / dm servers during server outages, or settling Skype arguments on that one server (for the life of me I can't remember the name! Koky's?); • LS:RP was the infinite contributions of people like Westside and Obsessi0n, who otherwise pushed the boundaries on individual characters and gang quality; • LS:RP was the infinitely deep, and infinitely static LCN scene, baring no greater sense of passion from a group of players on any game I've ever seen before; • LS:RP was the individual contributions of testers at the crack of dawn, hammering the last of the applications down after a particularly busy night; • LS:RP was walking into Meathead's Deli for the first time in 2014 and being introduced to casual, passive role play for the first time, and falling in love with it whilst Bob Seger blares over that 181.fm station; • LS:RP was midnight conversations with Bospy, Pitchounette and KaylaSpace, discussing what our dream FBI faction would be; • LS:RP was every internal gang war. Finding out that Nova died still gives me goosebumps, or having Icey retaliate for ColossalBQ CKing me; • LS:RP was figuring out how the hell to install IRC for the first time, when you got tester; • LS:RP was Teamspeak fights about the direction of your faction and where it should move forward. I never got to apologize to iJoker and I regret it; • LS:RP was the transition between ENB to the "elite" grime era of screenshots; • LS:RP was getting caught behind the Ganton blue projects with your gun stash by a pair of prying eyes, and logging off pissed off because you know the rest of your week is SACF; • LS:RP was the 2014-2016 era casinos. Companies like Roux and BION are still firmly branded into my brain; • LS:RP was learning about the mechanic paycheck in the county, and beating yourself up over the 50 hours you played without it; • LS:RP was seeing the name "Settlemire" (I think?) in the distance and pissing your pants in Skype about the incoming casefile; • LS:RP was the transition towards "grime" role play, focusing on drug dependency and mental illness, racism and other uncomfortable topics, pioneered by factions like Peddlers of Death; • LS:RP was the Iraq War level gang conflicts between factions like Beasley & Associates (love u Damaz), Crenshaw, Hoover, WGS18, ViperZ, EHC, and the thousand other factions I'm woefully forgetting as I write this; • LS:RP was the individual contribution of every administrator who took time out of their day to contribute to something they loved; • LS:RP was the individual contribution of every tester, every forum moderator, and every subteam member who worked to help make the community what it was; • LS:RP was the individual contribution of every faction leader, every member of FMP, and every player who worked to build their faction and make a permanent mark on the server; • LS:RP was long lasting friendships. I still play games with Surreal on a regular basis; LS:RP was us. I'm not putting my neck out to burn a bridge. Believe me, I love this game as much as any of you do. I'm not trying to shit on anybody, but I'm simply asking you to heed my warning: don't commit to something and blindly defend it because it's name is attached to something that you love. Their is very fair criticism to be had on the matter, and I'm asking you to place it correctly. Kane, Bennemus, and whoever are easy to direct your frustrations at because they respond. Don't let them be another lightning rod. We caught enough for him.

Support me on Patreon Join the Discord Server GRAPHICS RealityV for RAGEMP - Singleplayer - More : VisualV for RAGEMP - Singleplayer (83MB) - DL: VisualVanilla for RAGEMP (193MB) - DL: Natural Vision Remastered for RAGEMP (71MB)- DL: GTA V Redux for RAGEMP (60MB)- DL: Make Visuals Great Again (MVGA) for RAGEMP (70MB)- DL: PRV - Project REVIVE for RAGEMP (75MB)- DL: GTA V Remake for RAGEMP (22MB) - DL: QuantV 2.1.4 for RAGEMP (4MB) - DL: USE ONLY ONE ENBs RealityV Horizons ENB (60MB) - DL: PRSA ENB (86MB) - DL: Natural Vision Remastered ENB (3MB) - DL: ENB is performance costly, use them only if your hardware is capable TEXTURES GTA V: Definitive Edition (V:DE) for RAGEMP - Singleplayer - More : (HDMP) HD ONLINE MP_FEMALE and MP_MALE SKINS (63MB) - DL: Fixes & Improvements (245MB) - DL: Realistic Gore & Blood (16MB) - DL: Vanilla Vehicles Emissives Fix (14MB) - DL: Vegetation Remastered (520MB) - DL: L.A. Roads 2.0 (2.42GB) - DL: Satellite map with detailed street names (53MB) - DL: Atlas Road Map with street names / Atlas Park Rangers Map (35MB) - DL: Remastered Old Gen Radar (4MB) - DL: SOUND Realistic Audio Overhaul (55MB) - DL: MISC. Enhanced Ambient Occlusion - DL: Auto Hotkey chat assistant - DL: HOW TO USE THE MODS IN SINGLEPLAYER - GUIDE: RECOMMENDED MOD COMBINATION: V: Definitive Edition (V:DE) + RealityV + HDMP + Realistic Audio Overhaul + Vanilla Vehicles Emissives Fix + L.A. Vegetation + Fixes & Improvements + Realistic Gore & Blood + Atlas Road Map with street names

All lipstick swatches were applied with (Medium 3), each setting has different lipstick styles but this is a list of all swatches. Amber Burst Amethyst Dream Autumn Ember Azure Waters Berry Crush Blossom Whisper Caramel Kiss Caramelized Ginger Charcoal Grey Cherry Noir Cinnamon Spice Coral Flame Crimson Velvet Dark Chocolate Dusty Rose Ebony Noir Enigmatic Eggplant Fiery Passion Fiery Sunset Forest Green Fresh Lime Fuschia Fizz Golden Yellow Green Oasis Honey Sand Lemon Zest Magenta Muse Mahogany Spice Mauve Enchantment Midnight Berry Minty Fresh Misty Morning Mocha Delight Mulberry Blush Navy Eclipse Nude Cashmere Oceanic Blue Orchid Whisper Pearl Essence Pink Orchid Pink Peony Plum Noir Plum Passion Raspberry Sorbet Rich Espresso Rosewood Passion Royal Orchid Ruby Red Sandy Taupe Scarlett Siren Sapphire Night Serena Sea Silver Mist Steel Gray Sunny Yellow Sweet Blush Tangerine Tango Teal Breeze Terracotta Temptation Turquoise Tides Vanilla Cream Velvet Plum Wine Stain

Under the "totality‑of‑the‑circumstances" test of Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213 (1983), probable cause exists where there is a fair probability that evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place. Affidavits must be interpreted in a "commonsense" manner that recognizes the training and experience of law‑enforcement affiants. United States v. Ventresca, 380 U.S. 102 (1965). As the affidavit below demonstrates, the convergence of independently corroborated surveillance observations, CSLI data, undercover recordings, and victim‑witness statements establishes far more than a "fair probability" that evidence of the enumerated offenses will be found at the Target Locations. Courts routinely uphold search warrants for the residences of suspected gang members where surveillance shows the member commuting between crime scenes and the residence. See, e.g., People v. Camarella (1991) 54 San.An.3d 592. CSLI and physical tailing place each SUBJECT at his respective residence within two hours of the Havana Club assault. Given the short temporal proximity and the inherent mobility of firearms, there is a fair probability evidence will be stored at these homes.

SAN ANDREAS PAUL GRUMO, ALLEGED BOSS OF LOS SANTOS CRIME FAMILY, DIES AT 63 Booking photo of Paul Grumo following his arrest in 2021. (Los Santos Police Department) BY HAROLD DALEY Dec. 10 Updated 9:01AM PT LOS SANTOS — Paul Grumo, the alleged boss of the Los Santos crime family, was found dead in his Palomino Creek home Sunday morning. The 63-year-old died suddenly in his sleep, and authorities stated it is too early to comment on whether or not foul play factored into the death. Born and raised in Tampa, Grumo is believed to have got his start in organized crime working for the Valenti crime family’s long-time Florida-based caporegime Frank D’Armi as a bookmaker in the late 1980s. Grumo moved to Los Santos in 2013 when the Valenti family was in a state of turmoil with much of its upper echelon behind bars or on trial and deadly power struggles decimating the family further. Grumo has been linked to notorious Mafia bigwigs from Santino “The Butcher” Valenti’s inner circle such as the now-imprisoned Samuel “The Beak” Beccarini and Donald Rigazzi, who currently resides in Tampa. Grumo was released from prison in 2009 after serving a 5 year sentence for aggravated assault, but otherwise managed to stay under the radar of law-enforcement and out of the public eye for much of his criminal career, until rising to the top of the Valenti crime family in recent years. Grumo faced a lengthy trial before eventually being acquitted of money laundering charges last year. In stark contrast to Sonny Valenti—who through his bloody rise and high-profile trials became a celebrity and embraced a life of luxury, often seen wearing expensive suits, driving flashy sports cars, and lived in a Richman Hills mansion—Grumo largely managed to avoid headlines and exhibited a more humble lifestyle. Mafia pundits point to Grumo as being a key figure in the rebuilding of the Valenti crime family, ushering in an era of stability for an organization that had been in constant turmoil since the 2011 conviction of its original boss Sonny Valenti. The Valenti family, once thought to be completely defunct, began making significant inroads and a resurgence in the Los Santos underworld in 2018 and beyond, which came to the surface with their bloody feud with the renegade Bellantonio crime family in 2019 and 2020. Since then, there has been no violence linked to the Valenti family. Authorities believe that the rival organizations negotiated a peace treaty and cut all business ties, through the help of mediation from Bonanno family bigwig Joseph “The Barber” Uttaro. The impact Grumo’s death may have on the landscape of the Valenti family and Los Santos underworld remains to be seen. Some believe that Sonny Valenti still holds the top seat in the family from behind bars, but his level of influence in the family’s modern state of affairs is largely unknown. The Butcher’s earliest possible release date is 2036.

Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome and to Dos Santos for his work behind the scenes helping set everything up in-game for us. For those wondering, the reason we have so few /invited members is because not everyone has been /invited yet and we have reverted back to Sonny’s method of inviting only made men to the faction in-game; our standards for induction are extraordinarily high and the vast majority of the faction’s member base consists of associates. There were a few reasons for this decision, chief of which is to help achieve our goal of creating the most realistic, immersive, IC roleplay experience possible for everyone involved. With that said, we have a top-notch group of associates and value everyone on the team, regardless of rank. Please bear in mind that my original plan was to operate strictly IC with no faction thread/OOC presence for a month+ (like our last run) so we could take our time in reestablishing everything in-character, rekindling chemistry, and to help build the foundation of the realistic, immersive, IC culture we are striving for. However, in order to be eligible for official reinstatement and receive our businesses back (more of a priority than official status itself), we had to rush to post a thread before the deadline. Many of us, myself included, have been on a hiatus from roleplaying and this project only recently came together. We are still in the initial planning stage and currently reorganizing our businesses but the interest from our past members has been massive and you will see more and more Valenti characters of old around in the coming weeks. Make no mistake, I would not have brought Valenti back without the right team in place to uphold and further the legacy. For those interested in joining: I have been swarmed with messages from all angles since rumors spread of the Valenti comeback and apologize for not getting back to everyone. All the information you need is on the second post of this thread. There are no Discord groups to join and no OOC handouts to be had; all recruitment is handled IC. I recognize that due to the current status of the faction IC it will be more difficult than usual to come in contact with us but more and more pathways to joining will present themselves as the faction rebuilds in an organic, realistic manner.

Since I contributed to some negativity on this forum about a week ago during my first impressions of playing this game I feel like I want to set the record straight by admitting that this shit is a lot more fun than I expected it to be. The initial shock of realising of how slow monetary progression is was definitely a turnoff in the beginning but honestly that feeling eventually faded by the roleplay I had with people on the server, mostly around businesses and with people in my faction but unfortunately this wasn't often since there's a disappointingly low number of businesses that offer a spot to hangout and meet other roleplayers during peak hours. With the coming window for business lease applications (which I hope is soon<3) I'm sure this matter will be adressed to some extent. Even so, I've come to the happy realization that this server is a lot better than it may look on paper and that most of the economic issues aren't that bad if you just play actively. To add, now that we get social security checks past lvl 3, we're able to focus on solely roleplaying, as just passively stacking levels will be more than enough to pay for rent + a feasible car. Not being forced to be a pro lawn-mower or sports fisherman feels really nice. . This server is honestly fortunate to have the base of loyal enthusiasts and roleplayers that it has, second to no other community in terms of quality and understanding for heavy text based roleplay. Playing here is a vibe that is hard to find somewhere else and luckily that's the biggest selling point for and old sa-mp veteran like me to stick on this server. For this reason I want to commend the admins for listening to our initial complaints and working quickly to adress issues within a reasonable timeframe. There's still a lot more to be done which the admins know about more than me but I have high hopes that they will make good on their responsibilites and perhaps even then some <3. Peace

This will be a showcasing section for me, showing off mods I've done in the past and present for GTAV. Everything that's shown off here is done by me, either created from scratch using my own, or other video games assets and everything will have its proper credits upon release. I hope everyone enjoys my work and gives feedback no matter what all feedback is accepted and taken as creative criticism. Thank you all and enjoy. I also take requests if you'd like anything regarding clothes, accessories, environmental and animations either PM me here or contact me on Discord at cranky#0017 Clothing/Accessories Some clothes and accessories I've worked on or am currently working on. Animations A few animations that are either WIP or done, for now these will be showcased for my faction and later down the line I'll most likely end up doing animations for all LA gangs. Environment

As a result of this thread myself, @Mac, the Faction Team and @largehazard or Liam took these concerns seriously and devised a plan to accommodate the majority opinion that is the replacement of California with San Andreas but in addition to a "compromise" that allows for the implementation of small-parts of northern California to replace extensions of their map-equivalents. Never before has this been done and we believe it will be a monumental moment in the server's growth as a heavy roleplay server. Not only does this expansion into uncharted territory allow roleplaying freedom conjoined with realism but it recognizes San Andreas as it's supposed to be, as California, the 31st state of the United States. This is still a work in progress and open to interpretation but the foundations of (our opinion) a realism-focused server varied with certain fictitious aspects will, in the long term, attract likeminded players while also being respective of the fun of the game. Before forwarding this to management we thought we would open it to public scrutiny so that those it will ultimately affect can have their voice heard in the interest of transparency. It started as a player discussion and we hope that it will end as a player discussion. Collectively, this is a draft (work in progress) that with public backing, we hope to forward to management for consideration: Los Santos, San Andreas, is a city based on Los Angeles, California. As a result of this, and LS-RP's stance on heavy-roleplay, Los Santos, San Andreas will act as a replacement for Los Angeles, California and part of its surrounding area. San Andreas will therefore replace California as the United States' 31st and second largest state. Encircled by states like Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and Mexico's Baja California to the south, its coastline on the Pacific Ocean on the west acts as "the 5 borders of San Andreas." For a more immersive experience and in the interest of server continuity, we are only roleplaying on-map locations as replacements for real life locations, therefore San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami, and New York all remain the same. In addition to this, factions and players may use real events, history and backgrounds to construct both individual and faction background stories up until the cut-off point of 2019, granted that it doesn't coincide with key parts of our own server lore including key figures such as members of the government, police department, fire department and known criminals who also replace their real-life equivalents. This will apply for immersive purposes only to things like the weather, news (country-wide) and information to create a realistic character or faction background. In a nutshell, faction and character backgrounds may contain real-life history up until 2019 then everything after that must become fictitious. Despite having a SoSan (SoCal) dominant stance on SA:MP, we have decided to step into GTA V with a more neutral stance on the subject to create even more opportunities for the players. Under this circumstance, we will be tailoring our map around different parts of California. Paleto Bay and Grapeseed will replicate specific areas and the cultures inspired by Northern California or as referenced, NorCal. Players who roleplay from here may take inspiration from areas like Bakersfield and Fresno where north/south lines converge. Both coasts have dissimilar cultures and this should be taken into consideration when roleplaying in or around either one. The driving distance between LS and these areas will be anywhere between 1.5-3 hours depending on time of day and traffic, so roleplay in accordance to this estimate. Law enforcement agents who receive calls or backup requests may bypass this rule. For this reason, the designated area will serve as LSRP's northern San Andreas aka NorSan. There would be no real distinction between the two if we were to remain entirely based on Southern California so instead, we created this compromise. To summarize: Los Santos, SA replaces Los Angeles, CA San Andreas, USA replaces California, USA Paleto Bay, Blaine County no replacement, loosely based on areas north of the Bay Area (doesn't go that far North, e.g towards Oregon) because of the environment/name i.e redwood forest and "Pelato Bay" (Pelican Bay State Prison) Grapeseed, Blaine County no replacement, loosely based on more 'central' northern areas like the Salinas Valley and other farming towns like this. Sandy Shores, Blaine County, no replacement, loosely based on Inland Empire area to the east/southeast of LA. It remains part of SoSan. San Fierro exists in name alone, it inhabits everything else from San Francisco Las Venturas exists in name alone, it inhabits everything else from Las Vegas Vice City does not exist Liberty City does not exist The Alamo Sea is the traditional north/south diving line. If you're south of it, you're in SoSan. If you're north of it, you're in NorSan. The two communities on either side (Sandy Shores and Grapeseed) can therefore be considered both 'central' and 'north/south' respectively, depending on context, as the communities around Bakersfield, Fresno etc. are irl. Blaine County will represent California's Kern County (Bakersfield area). Sandy Shores, Paleto Bay and Grapeseed are all within Blaine County. Blaine County is a central area which can be considered both northern San Andreas and Southern Andreas, depending on where you are within it. E.g. Sandy Shores is considered more southern, Paleto Bay is considered northern. Los Santos County will replace Los Angeles County Los Santos Police Department The Los Santos Police Department draws heavy inspiration from the Los Angeles Police Department and will replace it in principle. In order to strike a balance between the game and real-life, the faction applies small fictional elements in some aspects of its organization in order to ensure that progression within the faction, as well as work delegation, is done properly. Nonetheless, all procedures and inner workings of the faction's role-play are drawn from the Los Angeles Police Department. The faction's manual and procedures are a direct port, that received small adjustments here and there, from the Los Angeles Police Department in order to ensure that the faction portrays its counterpart to the fullest extent. Unless an individual is specifically knowledgeable about the LAPD, they will not be able to notice the difference between the LSPD and the LAPD, which the faction aims to portray to the fullest extent. It is also worth mentioning that the faction's fleet similarly represents the LAPD, as well as the uniform standard. Our vehicles and uniforms are also restricted based on what the LAPD does. The faction furthermore enforces an age policy in order to ensure realistic character progression. In order to make this more clear to the regular player and aspiring faction members, LSPD = LAPD. Sports Teams - LA = LS Real life sports teams will be acknowledged with the replacement of LA for LS. For example, LS Rams replaces LA rams. LS Lakers replaces LA Lakers and the Los Santos Dodgers replaces the Los Angeles Dodgers. Because of this, players will have the ability to root for their native teams. Modded sportswear with the real-life equivalent names are allowed but when speaking, writing or wagering on your team, it must be substituted with its lore-friendly name. Everything from the fonts to colouring will remain the same. Additionally, you may also pluralize them as a compromise. Namely "the Rams," or "the Lakers" or "the Dodgers." Clothing and Body Art Real life clothing can be roleplayed in addition to what is made available by the script and modding team. However, if it is personal modifications, players and law enforcement personnel may describe and identify you based on what is noticeable and available to them. This applies to both clothing and body art, anything that substitutes something for something else. Additionally, the modded replacement must be listed in your character description e.g a MC-affiliated vest or "kutte" replacing a vanilla version of it. Anything that doesn't go without saying must be listed for immersive purposes. Weapons, Ammunition and Attachments Our weapon and ammunition portrayal will be dictated by script, where developers have worked tirelessly to implement a system based on San Andreas' real-life equivalent. Whatever they are named and modelled after is what they will be roleplayed as with no exceptions. Damage from weapon, ammunition and attachments will be taken into account when roleplaying injuries or declaring deaths in accordance to realism. Vehicles Vehicles remain in their original GTA V form and replace their real-life equivalents. To name a few of the more common vehicles, the Ubermacht replaces BMW, Obey replaces Audi, certain Benefactor models replace certain Mercedes models so on so fourth. An official guide will be posted in the correct section where players can draw inspiration from. Vehicles driven by players must suit their character's ambition, situation and financial circumstance and must make sense for their individual characters. For instance, if your character owns a variant of the Benefactor, it makes no sense to go on robberies or sprees in it, especially if registered to you. Brands and GTA franchises A lot of GTA's branding and franchises are modelled around real life. For example, Tim Vapid is Tom Ford, Sebastian Dix is Christian Dior, Blagueurs is Balenciaga/Vetements, Anna Rex is Calvin Klein and Sand Castle is Stone Island. As a result, these brands will be considered bootlegged versions of their real life equivalents unless there is no available substitute. If there is no available clothing to replicate their equivalent, it may be addressed via description so that players have the opportunity to examine and acknowledge it. Food chains such as Cluckin Bell, Taco Bomb and Hookies are all also considered low-end and domestic fast food chains and can be acknowledged if necessary. Factions based on single player organizations are disallowed. Special thanks to: largehazard aka Liam Mac LSPD Leadership, Benavides Faction Team Kane for allowing us to take this to the public domain The public and xander11 for bringing it to attention in the first place All contributions from the original poll Again, there is room for improvement. This is still highly a work in progress and isn't official. This is a proposal on behalf of us, the public in sync with the Faction Team.

This was unfortunate wording and pedo RP was never allowed. That being said, after consideration, we've decided to edit this archaic rule and disallow any of the actions mentioned in the rule, without exception or permissions. Acts of sexual violence and dangerous or illegal paraphilias are not something we're going to facilitate in the community, even as "roleplay". Punishment for breach of this rule is ban.