WCPD Great 2006

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.

In order to combat their local gang problem, West Covina will utilize enforcement, intelligence, and education.

The enforcement activities include the efforts of their gang detectives, and the Graffiti Abatement Team. The gang detectives actively track parolees and focus their efforts on ridding the City of dangerous criminals.

There intelligence activities include undercover gang and narcotics detectives. The School Resource Officers (uniformed police officers) act as the eyes and ears of our intelligence detectives. The School Resource Officers constantly copy and forward all graffiti/tagging, and possible gang problems observed at schools to our Graffiti Abatement Team and gang detectives, who in turn interface with parole officers. This team approach aids our efforts to institute a seamless approach to gang issues.

There education activities are focused on the GREAT program, which is expanding to over 20 schools. This begins with the 6-lesson introductory Elementary Component, which targets about 1,300 elementary school students across the 3 public school districts and several private schools. The GREAT curriculum supports the local safe schools initiatives, by focusing on focuses on bullying, communication, respect, anger management, and good citizenship. The result is a safer school and improved learning environment that fosters better performance.

CA/NCF