County Sees Growth in Gang Resistance Program

The G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program continues to grow throughout the county, as the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor partners with law enforcement departments to prevent gang recruitment, Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said.

“Law enforcement must take proactive measures to prevent the spread of crime and violence,” he said. “The G.R.E.A.T. program does that for those we hold most precious — our children.”

G.R.E.A.T. is a curriculum instructed by law enforcement officers to prevent delinquency, violence and gang membership.

Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Anthony V. Pierro and Sergeant Anthony Carrington pushed for the Prosecutor’s Office to be involved with G.R.E.A.T. in 2011. The program has since spread throughout the county.

The Lakewood Police Department, New Jersey Parole Officers and Detective Sandra Rodriguez of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office will soon graduate the entire seventh grade class of Lakewood Middle School.

Students at Toms River Intermediate East, West and Hooper Avenue Elementary School have also been participating in G.R.E.A.T

Fifth grade students at the Walnut Street School in Toms River will graduate on Tuesday, April 30 at 8:45 a.m.

“I commend the members of my office and participating departments for working tirelessly to bring the program to so many of our schools,” Coronato said.

More information on the G.R.E.A.T. program can be found at www.great-online.org.