February 4, 1998
Officer charged with aiding youth
Sheriff wants to establish a Gang Resistance Education and Training program
To help keep kids out of trouble, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Harold Barr expects to hire an officer by the end of March to coordinate youth services.
The youth services coordinator would operate closely with several services that work with children, such as Drug Abuse Resistance Education instructors, school liaison and community patrol officers, and child abuse investigators.
The coordinator also would work with Gang Resistance Education and Training, a national program Barr wants to establish locally. "I don't think we truly have a formation of a gang network as you would see it in major cities. But don't kid yourself, we have the makings of potential gangs," he said.
Whether gang members, drug abusers or just classroom mischief makers, troubled youth could be better served by an officer familiar with all youth services in the community, Barr said. The officer could best match a troubled child with the most appropriate service to meet his or her need.
By working with students and teachers, the officer can "try to identify people on the verge of getting in trouble, so they don't," he said.
Barr also hopes that once the officer better understands youth needs, the community can offer activities to keep them busy and out of trouble, especially in summer and after school, he said.
The youth services coordinator would be a full-time job paid partially with federal funds. The sheriff department has received a Department of Justice grant for $75,000 over three years, which will help pay the salary of the youth services coordinator and two more community patrol officers.
Barr also has applied for state grants to pay a portion of the salaries. He expects to hear word back on that request later this month.