The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department recently took an initiative emphasizing youth development and safe choices by visiting Boston Asian Youth Essential Service. Their outreach program, the Choice Program, aims to engage students from grades 4 through 12, with a stronger focus on those attending middle school. According to their Facebook page, officers who volunteer for this role undergo a 40-hour specialized training to cover various sensitive topics impactful to young minds.
The curriculum of the Choice Program includes discussions about bullying, peer pressure, online safety, and the ramifications that criminal records can have on one's future prospects. Conducting sessions that are free-of-charge, officers make efforts to encourage students by stressing the importance of self-respect and making prudent decisions. Designed in 2005, community centers along with schools across Suffolk County benefit from this program where officers' presence, hoping to inspire and foster a culture of mutual respect and wiser choices among the youth.
For those who show interest in extending this educational resource to more young people, the sheriff's department has provided specific contact details. Sergeant Stacey Wood and Deputy Tom Maguire can be reached for further information or to book the Choice Program. They can be contacted at their respective phone numbers (617) 704-6672 for Sergeant Wood and (617) 704-6686 for Deputy Maguire, with also an option to reach them via email at [email protected] and [email protected]. Their roles in the External Affairs Division facilitate the expansion of the program's reach.
