In a city where police have identified more than 4,000 gang members, officers are talking to youths in an effort to prevent gang involvement.
The gang prevention program for children will begin Tuesday at the John W. Wells Youth Center, 701 East 5th St, and will be held every Tuesday until Sept. 7.
Although the Gang Resistance Education and Training program has been around since 1992, it is the first time police will run it locally.
"The city decided to implement it based on the need, due to the growing gang violence in the city, and it's a new way to try to target it," said officer Steve Sisemore.
