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Washington, DC -- Congressman David Wu announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded three grants of $125,000 to the City of Tualatin, the Sherwood Police Department and the Scappoose Police Department to hire police officers to be school mentors. The money is provided under the Cops In Schools Program administered by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, which encourages the use of community policing to prevent school violence and improve student safety.
"I am pleased to announce these grants, which will help give our students the skills they need to be productive members of their schools and communities," said Congressman David Wu. "The Cops In Schools Program is an important part of the effort to provide a safe learning environment in Oregon schools."
Each officer will serve as an educator, mentor and community liaison. In local schools, officers will teach classes in crime prevention, substance abuse awareness and gang resistance, giving students the skills they need to steer clear of activities that lead to criminal behavior.
As mentors, the officers will work with counselors to monitor and guide troubled students and encourage all students to participate in community service activities. Further, officers will help fine-tune the overall school environment to reduce criminal activity and increase school safety.
Acting Police Chief Lt. Richard Dague of the Scappoose Police Department said the federal funds will make an enormous difference to the Department and enrich the quality of outreach offered to Scappoose and its youth.
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