Greeley 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 Greeley Police Department will use the 2007 G.R.E.A.T funding to continue their efforts to deter students and families from becoming involved in gangs and criminal activity. The specific tactics they will use include: 1. Identifying neighborhoods that are experiencing increased criminal juvenile gang activity and those students in the district who are affected by the decline in the quality of life in those neighborhoods.
2. Conducting surveys, hosting meetings and sessions with students and their families to include the school district personnel, in order to address concerns about gangs, police and community issues or other problems that may be resolved through intervention or mediation. 3. Coordinating efforts with the schools to provide an expanded full range of school resource and liaison services to the school-age youth through the GREAT program contacts. These efforts with the schools will provide the officers an ability to address specific gang related issues in the schools, neighborhoods,and community.

CA/NCF