CHICAGO — Gang activity accounts for approximately 40 percent of murders and for the city of Chicago, the number of murders is at its lowest level in the last 40 years.  One of the reasons is the police's tough stance on gang activity and the highly successful Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program.  The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA), developer, owner and operator of U.S. Cellular Field, has generously donated its world class Conference and Learning Center to the Chicago Police Department (CPD) for the G.R.E.A.T. program.

Fourty-two selected CPD officers are currently being trained by renowned gang resistance education trainers from across the nation until Friday. After completion of the two-week G.R.E.A.T. program, the CPD officers will become G.R.E.A.T. certified and will be able to conduct an intense, 13-week classroom-based course to elementary and middle school children in select Chicago schools beginning this spring.  The G.R.E.A.T. curricula will help CPD officers provide children with the skills necessary to combat the stresses that set the stage for gang involvement, accurate knowledge about gang involvement, skills necessary to resolve conflicts peacefully and help them understand the need to set realistic goals.

"Having been a national trainer for the G.R.E.A.T. program for many years, I can attest that this is the finest facility we have had the privilege to use.  It is through partnerships, such as the one we share with ISFA that make our program so successful," said CPD Sergeant Lori Cooper.

The G.R.E.A.T. Program is a 15-year nationwide program that has been implemented by law enforcement agencies and schools from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. Tuition fees for CPD officers to attend the G.R.E.A.T. program at U.S. Cellular Field have been covered through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. For more information about G.R.E.A.T, please visit www.greatonline.org.