S.C. Police to Begin Positive-Choice Mentoring

With the goal of presenting positive choices for young residents, the Charleston Police Department launches a mentoring program this weekend in two of the city's patrol areas.

The program, called "Beyond the Horizon," will include police officers as well as community volunteers working with young people two Saturdays a month, said police Sgt. John Lites, who leads the department's Community Action Team for the Team One patrol area.

The program also will include a recreational component and character building, he said.

"We are trying to get the children to look beyond what's right in front of them and see that they have endless possibilities," Lites said.

On Saturday, the program for the Team One area, which serves the area of peninsular Charleston north of Calhoun Street to the North Charleston city line, will be held at Sanders-Clyde Elementary and Middle School on Morrison Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lites said.

The program for Team Four, which serves the St. Andrews-West Ashley area, will be at St. Andrews Middle School on Wappoo Road from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., said Sgt. Jill Hawley, Community Action Team leader for Team Four.

In both schools, the program is being launched as a pilot program, Hawley said. Lessons learned in getting the program up and running in the two pilot areas will be applied when the program is launched in other parts of the city, she said.

There are already about 15 students, 7 to 14 years old, participating from each school.

Educators and school resource officers helped select the first batch of participants, Lites said.

"We want to reach these kids maybe when they are starting to get into trouble," he said. "Maybe we can mentor them and show them a better way."

All of the police officers involved are volunteers, both officers said.

Hawley said officers hope to build one-on-one relationships with the students, relationships that carry over from the program's Saturday hours and into the week.

"We are choosing youths that live in the areas we patrol," she said.

Once the mentors get to know the students and what their interests are, the other volunteer mentors will get involved, Hawley said. If students say they want to know more about doctors, a doctor may speak about careers in medicine, she said.

"It is going to be a structured program," Hawley said. "However it's going to be fun,"

The city's recreation department and volunteers from Seacoast Church are participating, Hawley said.

Volunteer mentors from other religious groups are also welcome, she said.

Reach David W. MacDougall at 937-5655.

TO VOLUNTEER

"Beyond the Horizon" welcomes other volunteer mentors. Future dates in April and May at both schools are April 16, May 14 and May 28. From June through August, the programs are scheduled on alternating Saturdays. For further information call Charles Francis at 720-2497 or 509-3001.