City of Memphis Police Department G.R.E.A..T. Program

The Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program is a life-skills competency program designed to provide students with the skills they need to avoid gang pressure and youth violence. G.R.E.A.T.'s violence prevention curriculum helps students develop values and practice behaviors that will assist them to avoid destructive activities. The G.R.E.A.T. program coordinates with federal, regional, state and local agencies, as well as individuals from community and civic groups. The goal of the G.R.E.A.T. program is to train law enforcement officers in a school-based curriculum in which the officers provide instruction to school-aged children in life skill competencies, gang awareness, and anti-violence techniques. Training in the core G.R.E.A.T. program is provided to officers from any state or local law enforcement agency.

The Memphis Police Department plans to use the G.R.E.A.T. funds to support the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum for the seventh grade students in the area middle schools. Eight Memphis Police Department certified officers and one lieutenant implement the G.R.E.A.T. Program. Three of these officers are members of the G.R.E.A.T. National Training Team.

CA/NCF