The Portland Police Bureau Youth Services Division, the Bureau's Gang Resistance Education And Training (GREAT), and Target will co-host "Heroes and Helpers" on Friday, December 7, 2018, at the Jantzen Beach Target, 1555 N Tomahawk Island Drive, from 6:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Portland Police Officers will partner with a pre-selected child/youth to shop for their selection of clothing, school supplies, or toys for Christmas.

The Youth Services Division (YSD) works with community partners to keep our youth safe. YSD officers strive to keep youth in school and out of the criminal justice system while applying non-traditional measures to hold youth accountable. YSD officers form partnerships and build relationships with youth that are impactful and sustainable. YSD officers teach youth good citizenship values and work to help schools increase their graduation rates.

Ensuring school safety is the highest priority for YSD officers. Their main mission is to provide a school environment that is free of crime, the fear of crime, intimidation and disorder, so that school staff and students can achieve their education goals without distraction.

The School Resource Officer (SRO) works closely with school staff, students and parents and is included in every major discussion related to school safety and disorder. The primary activities of the SRO are problem solving, education, mentorship, and crime prevention.

SRO's have chosen children they have come in contact with, whose families are in need of assistance this holiday season. Each of the 40 youth selected will receive a $100.00 Target gift card to spend on a gift that they otherwise would not have been able to give or receive.

YSD invites members of the community to attend this event to see SRO's and staff in action. The Portland Police Bureau encourages the community to get to know the SRO's, ask questions, and talk with the officers about what is happening in and around our schools.

For interested media, Captain Tashia Hager will be at the Heroes and Helpers event, available for interviews.

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