SOUTH TOMS RIVER STUDENTS LEARN G.R.E.A.T. LIFE LESSONS

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Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced the first of many G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) graduations within Ocean County Schools for the 2017/2018 school year.  The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office collaborated with South Toms River PD and South Toms River Elementary School staff yesterday (2/20) by certifying over 70 students in the G.R.E.A.T. Program.

To date the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in cooperation with the Ocean County Sheriff’s Dept., Toms River Police Department, South Toms River Police Department and Lakewood Police Department have trained just under 2600 fifth and sixth grade students in the Ocean County area in the G.R.E.A.T. program.  This training is conducted each school year throughout Ocean County.

The program focuses on teaching children life skills that include decision-making, communication skills, anger management, anti-bullying and respect. The program is taught by Officer’s trained and certified by OCPO, allowing local Law Enforcement to work collaboratively with the School District and the community.  To date the program has imparted life skills/lessons to over 1400 students throughout Ocean County who have completed the school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum.

The Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program is an evidence-based, national and international gang and violence prevention program that has been building trust between law enforcement and communities for almost 30 years.  G.R.E.A.T. is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership.  It is designed for children in the years immediately before the prime ages for introduction into gangs and delinquent behavior.  The program is built around school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curricula.

OCPO brought the program to Ocean County Schools in 2011 and have been continuously working cooperatively with other Ocean County law enforcement agencies to expand the program locally in an effort to reach as many children as possible.  Those wishing more Information about the G.R.E.A.T. program can go to: www.great-online.org.

Prosecutor Coronato commends the dedicated G.R.E.A.T. Instructors from South Toms River PD: Sgt. Michael Schneidt and Ptl. Anthony Giacinti.

The G.R.E.A.T. staff thanks the Ocean County School Administrators and Teachers for allowing them the opportunity to work with their students and for helping to make this program a continued success. G.R.E.A.T. partners and student graduates at yesterday’s graduation.  Certificates were presented to the students by STRE Principal Dennis Holzapfel, STRE Fifth Grade Teachers, OCPO Agent Al Della Fave, STR PD Sgt. Michael Kosh and STR PD Sgt. Michael Schneidt.