SUISUN CITY - The Suisun City Police Department is the first agency in the region to launch a new gang education program to help inoculate incoming sixth graders against gang lifestyles.

The Suisun City Council recently accepted a federal grant to pay for the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Program.  The curriculum, taught by specially trained police officers, will be introduced at Crystal Middle School this school year, but may expand to the three elementary schools in Suisun City depending on scheduling.

“The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District has been a great partner of ours in bringing these types of youth-oriented prevention programs to our schools,” said Police Chief Ed Dadisho. “The District recognizes the importance of implementing the GREAT Program as a preemptive anti-gang measure for our at-risk youth.”

The GREAT Program, which is administered by the federal Office of Justice Program’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, is a classroom curriculum intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. GREAT lessons focus on providing students with life skills to help them avoid engaging in delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems.

Using patrol officers who have received two weeks of GREAT training adds to their credibility among the youth, and builds relationships that will last beyond the program’s formal instruction

The Suisun City Police Department will continue to work with the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, which has been a long-time partner and supporter of the Police Department’s youth-oriented initiatives, especially in the area of anti-gang and youth violence initiatives.

In addition to the classroom instruction, the GREAT program increases the regular presence of a uniformed officer on school campus.

Schools within Suisun City have pledged their support for this program by signing letters of commitment and agreeing to integrate the program into their curriculum.

“They are excited about the possibilities of this program and are committed to making this program successful,” Chief Dadisho said.

Several schools also have expressed interest in expanding the program by adding the summer and family components, options the Police Department is excited to pursue.

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