Sept. 21, 2006

 

FEDERAL GRANT WILL PAY
FOR TOPEKA POLICE OFFICERS
TO TEACH ANTI-GANG CLASSES

TOPEKA, KAN. – Immunizing Topeka school students against gangs is the goal of a $58,344 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to the city of Topeka and the Topeka Police Department.

“Young people need to understand the implications of joining a gang,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren. “They need accurate information about gangs, training and encouragement to resist negative peer pressures, and help developing the skills to resolve conflicts peacefully.”

The Gang Resistance Education and Training Program (G.R.E.A.T) provides grants to help police departments train officers and form partnerships with school districts to put G.R.E.A.T. officers into classrooms. The G.R.E.A.T. curriculum emphasizes skills for avoiding crime and violence and achieving academic goals. G.R.E.A.T. officers conduct in-service training for faculty members and reach out to parents and the community with after-school and evening informational meetings.

The grant, awarded by the Department of Justice through the Office of Justice Programs, was the result of a competitive grant process. The city of Wichita received a similar grant this year.

For more information about the G.R.E.A.T program, see www.great-online.org.

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