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More hate groups are operating in the Valley, but investigators said many people would not recognize the members.
The Southern Poverty Law Center tracks hate groups across the nation and reported that 17 groups are now in Arizona – up from 12 last year.
See a map of hate groups operating in ArizonaThe groups range from neo-Nazis to black separatists. The SPLC said they are operating in the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, and Goodyear.
Investigators said many of them are not easy to spot.
"These groups are getting bigger and they're not the tattoo-wearing, swastika-wearing, shaved-head people you typically think about," said an undercover Mesa Police Department detective.
The detective told ABC15 that successful businessmen funnel money to some of the groups to help keep them in operation.
One group known as the National Vanguard is considered to be a neo-Nazi organization by the SPLC.
Experts said the group has a large following in the East Valley and is known to distribute flyers in upper-class neighborhoods calling for people to "save the white race."
"Recruitment is the number one objective for them,” said the detective. “They recruit young teens in middle school to adults.”
Late last year, several men holding "white pride" signs on the corner of Scottsdale Road and Camelback spent the day urging people to join their effort.
"We just want white people to be proud,” said one demonstator who only identified himself as ‘Dana.’ “Hispanics have their day. African-Americans have their day. So, we just want whites to have a day.”
The detective said, "People just don't understand, many members of these groups are born into it, they're raised into it and bring others into it, this is a lifestyle for them."
The veteran Mesa detective has worked undercover for several years to track the movements and actions by some of the hate groups in Mesa.
"These people aren't dumb,” he said. “Most of the older members are well educated and can talk politics like nobody's business."
While each group is different, the detective said the groups don't compete with each other.
"There are some with shaved heads and all that, but there are others who denounce drugs and sit around drinking beer thinking how to grow," he said.
With an increase in the number of hate groups operating in the Valley, the number of hate crimes don't appear to rise with them, according to investigators.
"That's because many victims cannot identify their attacker,” said the undercover detective. “Therefore, the police categorize it as assault or aggravated assault, especially because people are often attacked from behind."
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, hate groups can be found across Arizona from Flagstaff to Sierra Vista.
