The killing of a gang member by a rival gang member in the Goat Hill neighborhood 1993 led to the formation of a gang unit; the Commitment to Excellence program to reward students for staying in school, raising grade, or staying away from gangs; parenting classes; and removing graffiti at the public swimming pool and paving its parking lot. These efforts reduced gang activity, drive-by shootings, and dropping out of school. In 1995, new sheriff W.T. Shearer decided to build on the success of the Goat Hill Initiative. The county's elementary schools have had the DARE program since 1988; the sheriff was an early supporter of DARE. Today, the sheriff's department assigns at least one deputy to all middle and high schools as school resource officers to guide and help mentor youth toward becoming productive citizens. Finally, Primary District deputies work patrol districts to meet all the needs of the district, especially those of newly graduated citizens. The community policing, DARE, and school resource officer programs are strategies designed to reach out and work continually with youth; their successes can easily be seen in the support received from citizens. Photograph