“Corner of policing program” ends with federal cuts

La Crosse was regional training
office for G.R.E.A.T program

It’s the beginning of the end for a successful program. 

That’s how La Crosse police assistant chief Rob Abraham sees things for the G.R.E.A.T. program (Gang Resistance Education and Training) with the end of federal funding for the gang-resistance training.

His department is closing up its regional training office for G.R.E.A.T. and considering what will be lost without the program.

“G.R.E.A.T. is more than teaching life skills to kids,” Abraham said, “it also can be a cornerstone community policing program.

“We use that in our department – in our community – as a cornerstone community policing program to build relationships.”

Abraham says GREAT will still be taught in the classroom locally through, at least the end of the school year. But without training centers or federal funding, he says, the program is likely to die off in La Crosse and nationwide.