Mesa Police Department 2001 Annual Report
News Article

Police gang intervention project wins award

East Mesa Independent
December 4-10, 2001

     The Mesa Police Department's Gang Intervention Project recently received the 2001 Frederic Milton Thrasher Award for Exemplary Programs from the National Gang Crime Research Center.
      Mesa's program was recognized for its unique public-private partnership approach to service delivery, which combines the resources of multiple agencies to provide one-on-one assistance to current adult and juvenile gang members, as well as those at-risk for joining gangs.
     The project works with 190 gang members, associates and at-risk youth in a large targeted area of the City. Services provided to participants include educational and cultural programs, anger management courses, substance abuse counseling, employment assistance, neighborhood organization and community service assistance, as well as a gang-tattoo removal program.
     "Mesa has one of the best gang intervention programs in the nation," Mesa Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh said. "This honor is well-deserved."

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