Program Needed

It has come to the attention of the San Carlos Area Council that the Juvenile Intervention Program of the San Diego Police Department has been drastically cut--almost to the point of extinction.

Our council understands the need for many of the changes now taking place in the Police Department. However, we do not see the wisdom in reassigning the six or seven “limited duty” officers required to run the Intervention Program to the “on call--as needed” positions they have been assigned to. (Some of these positions require little more than phone-answering skills.)

This award-winning program has been a boon to the Navajo area, not only because of the services that it has rendered in terms of clean-up, fire prevention, beautification, etc., but also in terms of the families and young people who have received training, guidance and counseling and have, in many cases, been diverted from the path to Juvenile Hall. This is a model program.

The rewards of this program have been so great and the price in manpower so small, it seems unreasonable to discontinue it--even for a six-month period. Once such a program is stopped, will it ever really be started up again?

The San Carlos Area Council feels that the Juvenile Intervention Program of the San Diego Police Department should not be halted--even in view of present police personnel needs.

ANN W. MacCULLOUGH

San Carlos