THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2008
A Fighting Chance
Police, Volunteers Bring Kids Off Streets and Into Gym As Part of Outreach Program
By RICHARD MAYER
Journal Reporter
Gang activity has declined dramatically in the Prospect Hts. community since 1990, according to police.
One reason for the decline is due to the efforts of Prospect Hts. and Wheeling police joining forces with volunteers in implementing programs designed to reach out to children to deter them from taking part in gang activity and breaking the law.
Beginning last week, a boxing program at Wheeling High School began for 22 kids that have been in trouble with the law from time to time.
Prospect Hts. Investigator Al Steffen, Wheeling Police officers Bill Stutzman, Tom Pinedo and John Abbio, Wheeling High School teacher Mike Burke, and boxing coach and one-time Prospect Hts. resident Rico Gonzalez all assist the kids and participate in the program.
The program will run nine weeks and is held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for two to three hours each day at Wheeling High.
Gonzalez, a former amateur and professional boxer, privately trains kids in a garage when he is not heading up the program. He used to live in Prospect Hts. and found himself in trouble with police occasionally when he was an adolescent.
"This is an alternative to the streets," said Gonzalez. "This program not only teaches kids how to box, but it teaches them discipline, how to carry themselves in a mature and professional manner, and respect other individuals."
Gonzalez said funding has been scarce, however. Once the program is completed right around the end of this school year, he is looking into reinstating the program again in the fall.
"Hopefully, the kids that are in the program now will stay with the boxing and participate again in the fall," said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez said he volunteer because he wants to share his stories and experiences with today's kids.
"This is a huge commitment on the part of the kids," said Stutzman. "The credit to start this program really goes to Rico and Al (Steffen). Al got together with Omni Youth Resource Center and got Rico involved and figured out how and where to host this program."
According to Steffen, over 50 kids applied for the program and had to go through numerous interviews to ensure they were determined to follow through with the program.
"The good thing about this program is we get to know the parents and now the parents come to the police with issues, when before, they were afraid to," said Steffen.
Prospect Hts. Police officers also volunteer their time to act as mentors, helping with kids' homework both at the Omni resource center and at the Willow Heights condominium clubhouse. Officers twice a week visit kids to help them with their school work or talk to them one on one.
There are three phases every year the police offer in assistance: Homework Helpers, Summer Program and "Enforcement."
"Homework Helpers" assists youths per location and helps them in their studies, counseling them one-on-one to make sure they are succeeding and staying out of trouble.
"Summer Program" takes place from June-August. The police bring in a bus and take weekly field trips to the zoo or museums. There is a Criminal Justice Day where kids will visit the courts and see how the judicial system works. There is also a Clean the Park Day where afterwards the kids are rewarded by heading to the pool for swimming.
If there's any money leftover in the program, it is used for "clean up." In other words, tactics are implemented to arrest kids who are causing problems in local neighborhoods.
Another program includes Det. Mary Lindgren where she works with adolescent girls once a week over eight weeks last October.
She sits down with girls and discusses self-esteem, sexual and family issues, and why and how to work out problems if they might incur.
According to Lindgren, in 1990, there were 108 documented gang contacts living in Prospect Hts. In 2002, there were 23 documented gang contacts in the city. As of 2007, there were 26.
Additionally, between October 2006-May 2007, there were 73 juvenile contacts for delinquent behavior. This was a 9.1% decrease from the same time period the year before, which accumulated 80 juvenile contacts for delinquent behavior.
Lindgren said there were numerous individuals that wore "gang colors" and marked up buildings with graffiti years ago due to a lack of law enforcement.
"Violence and gang activity has decreased over the years with each generation by one-thirds," said Lindgren.
Lindgren and Steffen both said funding for programs like these have been cut back dramatically and the only way for programs to continue is by officers and volunteers donating their own time.
"We are trying to show kids there are alternative ways to fixing problems without resorting to fighting, and it's working, but we need to continue to get the message out to the young kids before they are influenced by others," said Lindgren.