#164 Police and Automotive Pros Team Up for Youth Outreach

An Age Old Problem

Youth involvement in gangs is a serious problem across the country, whether you’re in a big city or the land of suburbia. You see gang graffiti firsthand, and usually glance over it, becoming numb to the blight and crime. MS-13, the mark of an international criminal gang organization, seems to be in the headlines just about every week as the federal government, and a multitude of states across the country, work to eliminate their presence.

From Gang Graffiti to Automotive Repair and Car Customization

Police departments are stretched thin for resources, yet officers all across our country create or volunteer to help their community. We are excited to share with you, Dragg Racing Against Gangs & Graffiti (DRAGG)  https://bit.ly/DRAGGTeam. It's not a big ‘ole horsepower run down a street called Broadway in the middle of the night, in all actuality, DRAGG is an incredible after school program for teens. Currently in the cities of Oxnard, CA and Phoenix, AZ, and coming soon to Los Angeles, police officers and folks from the automotive industry mentor at-risk high school students, giving them a viable alternative to a life of gangs and graffiti.

Guests DRAGG Executive Director Sargeant Woodruff, with the Oxnard Police Department, and Officer Teerink with the Phoenix Police Department, talk about the successes and impact the DRAGG program are having on young people. Follow them on Instagram or Twitter.