The La Crosse Police Department, in conjunction with the G.R.E.A.T. Midwest Atlantic Regional Training Center, is once again hosting G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training this summer from June 15 – June 24, 2015. This year we have 21 officers attending from 9 states including Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, and Michigan. Some of the larger police departments represented include Madison, Minneapolis, and Atlanta. Local members of the training staff include Sergeant Thomas Walsh and Officer Kurt Weaver. They will be working with trainers from across the country to certify these twenty-one candidates to enter classrooms and effectively deliver the G.R.E.A.T. program.
Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) is an evidence-based and effective gang and violence prevention program built around school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curricula. The Program is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership for children in the years immediately before the prime ages for introduction into gangs and delinquent behavior.
The La Crosse Police Department has long been considered a leader in prevention programming and is proud to host this national training. There is a significant economic impact to the downtown economy, as these officers are in town for training for ten days. The G.R.E.A.T. Midwest Atlantic Regional Training Center sponsors around five trainings per year, including the one held in La Crosse. Please join us in welcoming these officers to our great city!
La Crosse PD Newsroom 