August 21, 2009

News Release

TISD Police Offer Gang

Resistance Program to Middle School Students

            The Tyler Independent School District Police Department is pleased to announce the beginning of the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education And Training) Program at a middle school campus.  To kick off this program, The Tyler ISD Police Department will debut the new G.R.E.A.T Police vehicle on Wednesday, August 26 at 11:00 a.m. at the Tyler ISD Police Department, located at 807 West Glenwood, Tyler. This vehicle is designed to immediately bridge the gap between law enforcement and the students whom the program will serve. 

             This fall the program will be taught to the sixth grade students of Dogan Middle School.  G.R.E.A.T is a nationally recognized program designed to:

·         Develop social competency skills
·         Alter perceptions about gang involvement
·         Foster empathy for your fellow man
·         Encourage pro-social affiliations
·         Promote social responsibility

            The program requires parental consent and is taught in 13 separate forty-five minute segments. Each segment is comprised of an individual topic designed to educate the student about social responsibility.  After successful completion of the 13 week program and demonstrating understanding of each topic the student graduates the program and receives a certificate.

            The G.R.E.A.T. Program is a school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum. With prevention as its primary objective,  G.R.E.A.T. lessons focus on providing life skills to students to help them avoid using gang associated behavior and violence to solve problems.

            Tyler ISD Police Officer, Tito Castillo, a five year veteran of law enforcement, completed 80 hours of training to become the G.R.E.AT.  Instructor. Officer Castillo is proud to be leading the students at Dogan Middle School, “I think this is a great program and am very excited to present this information to the youth of Tyler.”     

            Tyler ISD Police Chief, Rex Brown, believes in the positive impact of this program.  “This is the best proactive program I have seen to prepare and train our youth to avoid violence in problem solving,” said Chief Brown.

For more information about G.R.E.A.T visit the website at http://www.great-online.org/.

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