Tuesday, July 22, 2008

GREAT Kids to Volunteer at Picnic

Officers Diglio (left) and Boni (right) with youth enrolled in GREAT.
"GREAT Kids!"  photo by Northsidebloggr 

Officer Tony Diglio is having a busy summer.

He and his fellow officers in the DARE Unit just completed a three-week session with more than a dozen students enrolled in the GREAT program. One week later, they're on to the next group who are actively engaged in their sessions at the Boys and Girls Club on Hamilton Street.

It's not even halfway through Day 2 and the group dynamics have already begun, with issues arising between personalities. This is a difficult time of life for the kids, who range in age from 10 to 14 years old.

They've come to the program on the recommendation of teachers, parents or resource officers working in the schools who have developed relationships with the youth and are able to identify individuals who would benefit by participating in GREAT: Gang Resistance Education And Training.

Late this morning, one young person was being counseled regarding dealing with the opposite sex in the peer group. Officer Diglio listened to the concerns, and pointed out the importance of interpersonal relations. Learning to communicate effectively with others, he said, will help now and later in life when pursuing life goals. He used an object lesson to teach the child who readily responded to the interest shown. The child left the room with a new resolve to relate better with others.

Next week, the youth will hone their teamwork and interpersonal skills in sessions designed specifically for this purpose. Officer Clarke will join these officers and others in the Community Policing Division to work with the kids outdoors in team building activities. This will culminate with a session in the woods of LaFayette on a Ropes Challenge Course located just south of the Jamesville Reservoir.

For the remainder of this week, the kids will be presented with all aspects of the Criminal Justice system by officers in various units within the Syracuse Police Department, as well as Onondaga County Probation. They will have field trips to various places and presenters coming to them, with messages on everything from goal setting to making wise choices, to career opportunities in law enforcement. Later, they will visit the courthouse for presentations by the District Attorney, and City and County Court judges.

Earlier this morning, the kids heard from a detective in the Youth Division regarding the consequences of making one bad decision. He emphasized how many other people are affected by one individual's choices. Using actual, local children's situations as case studies, the detective impressed on them that these are real people's lives, and not fictional stories. The kids also learned the difference in the levels of charges and the corresponding penalties.

There's also a taste of "cool" and some fun built into the agenda. The kids will see a demo by the officer in charge of the robot used by the Bomb Squad, and check out a fully-equipped, customized police motorcycle built by Harley Davidson. They'll visit the MOST, the zoo and watch a movie with a message.

They'll also volunteer in the community. Next Thursday, the youth will serve lunch to neighbors and supporters alongside others volunteering at the "Picnic With Police and Fire Departments". Stop by and meet us for lunch in Washington Square Park between Noon and 2pm, July 31.

We are still in need of donations for the picnic. For more information, please contact us at (315)471-3257.

For further information on the GREAT program, contact Officer Tony Diglio at (315)442-5216.

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