The Coldwater Police Department in cooperation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have been instructing the G.R.E.A.T. program in the Coldwater Junior High School and the Coldwater Elementary School.

    G.R.E.A.T. is Gang Resistance Education And Training.  The program is a school-based officer-instructed program that includes classroom instruction and various learning activities.  The instruction of life skills is the foundation of the program.  Providing life skills to students help them avoid delinquent behavior and resorting to violence to solve problems.  Communities do not need to have a gang problem to benefit from the program.  The primary objective is prevention and is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence and gang membership. 

    This program helps youth avoid gang membership, prevent violence and criminal activity, and develop a positive relationship with law enforcement.  This is accomplished by using a skills-based approach that addresses three domains of learning: cognitive, behavioral, and affective.  The program produces attitude and behavioral change through a unique combination of skills training, cooperative learning, discussion and role playing.  Students are provided with many opportunities to model and practice relevant life skills.  Once students have rehearsed these skills, they will be more likely to use them in real-life situations.

    Chief Randy Waltmire attended an 80-hour training class to certify him to be a G.R.E.A.T. instructor.  As part of this class, Waltmire was taught learning theories, public speaking skills and the G.R.E.A.T. Curriculum.

    Chief  Waltmire teaches the 13-lesson program to 7th grade students and a scaled back 6-lesson program to 4th graders.

    If you should have any questions about the G.R.E.A.T. program or would like to learn more about it, please contact Chief Waltmire.