Alan Hoskins, Supervisor of Public Information
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
College Advancement
A new anti-gang program for the state of Kansas was kicked off by State Attorney General Derek Schmidt at Kansas City Kansas Community College Wednesday.
The new initiative, entitled “Gang Free Kansas,” is a partnership effort between the Attorney General’s office and all Kansas Law Enforcement. The KCKCC program is the first in a series of anti-gang programs Schmidt will be unveiling throughout the state over the next three days.
Schmidt said the mission of “Gang Free Kansas” is to educate and inform citizens of Kansas about the danger criminal gangs pose to the state’s young people, their families, communities and the economic viability of the state.
“The primary tool in our efforts to educate and raise the level of public awareness is the Gang Free Kansas website www.GangFreeKansas.org,” said Schmidt, who was introduced by Don Ash, Wyandotte County Sheriff and a member of the KCKCC Board of Trustees.
The website includes information about how to report gang activity, how young people can stay out of gangs and how parents and family members can spot the early warning signs that might indicate their children are courting the gang lifestyle. Schmidt added that talks, presentations, billboards, public service announcements and other informational programs will be used in the on-going effort to keep young people out of gangs.