Chief James Craig kicks off a 13 week boot camp for troubled youthby Shannon Kettler/Jeremy Glover, Scripps Media, Inc., January 14, 2012CINCINNATI - More than 20 students from Rothenberg School in Mt. Auburn gathered Saturday morning for a pilot program started by Cincinnati Police Chief James Craig called Children in Trauma Intervention.
"This is really about the business of saving lives and this is one way of doing that," said Craig.
It's based off a similar program from Los Angeles and Portland Police Departments where Craig worked before coming to Cincinnati.
Rothenberg School, located at 2120 Vine Street, identified the 7th and 8th grade students needed to participate in the 13 week course also titled "Boot Camp".
"This is an opportunity," said Craig. "A last chance effort to take young people who have caused problems, some have had problems with the law. So this is their opportunity and we are going to continue to work with them."
Cincinnati Police officers are the instructors. "The officers are here on their own time and that's a testament to them in wanting to give back to the neighborhoods here in Cincinnati," said Craig.
The officers run the program with a military style of discipline and tough love.
"We remind them that we love them because I also know that what pulls young people into wrong directions and running with gangs is their perception other gangsters or people involved with crime love them," said Craig. "So we are replacing it with the right kind of love."
The work includes two days a week after school with an hour of physical fitness. They'll also talk about drug prevention, problem solving and self esteem. Saturday sessions include testimonials with their parents.
Erika Williams of Mt. Auburn supported the school when they picked her 13-year-old daughter, Khannesha Bronson, to participate.
"I believe in her," said Williams. "She's a good child but she just has an attitude problem right now."
Failure for these students is not an option according to Craig.
"This is mandatory. They don't get to lay in bed on Saturday. We will come and get them out of bed and if necessary we will bring them in custody to boot camp in front of their peers," said Craig. "It's that important."
