By Mona Darwish | mdarwish@scng.com

PUBLISHED: April 4, 2026 at 7:23 AM PDT

(Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Under bright, sunny skies that felt more like summer than spring break, dozens of Garden Grove Unified School District students gathered around SWAT team members from Garden Grove and Santa Ana as officers introduced themselves and described their roles.

Moments earlier, the students and officers had been on the field together, playing soccer side by side as part of a three-day event with Orange County ‘s Gang Reduction Intervention Program, or GRIP, an initiative run through the Orange County district attorney’s office aimed at connecting at-risk youths with mentors in law enforcement.

Along with building ties, having something to do during their spring break helps keep the students from looking in the wrong places for connections and to pass the time. More than

600 students participate in the soccer games throughout the year, one of several activities youths can take part in during summer and spring break, including baseball, dance and martial arts classes.

As the students rested at lunch tables, one officer described working patrol, responding to calls from minor incidents to emergencies. Another explained the additional training required for high-risk situations.

A bulletproof vest was held, and the excitement grew.

“The SWAT team has a bunch of different tools. We use them in situations too dangerous for regular officers,” the officer explained before he started passing around the vest. “Everyone wants to try it, right? We’ll do it in small groups.”

Students buzzed with eagerness as helmets and communication equipment were also passed around.

“This is so heavy… oh wow,” one student reacted.

“This is awesome! I want to try the helmet next!” another said.

Then came the moment many had been waiting for.

“So who’s ready to see the BearCat?” an officer asked.

The crowd erupted in excitement. “Stop you’re lying!” one child jokingly shouted in disbelief.

Around since 2007, GRIP partners with schools considered at risk for gang violence, working with districts to provide prevention, education and support services.

It now collaborates with 62 schools from 10 school districts across Orange County, including districts in Anaheim, Tustin, Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Orange. The program includes monthly meetings, intervention sessions, gang prevention curriculum and training for school staff.

Some 95% of youth participants reported improved coping skills, according to GRIP officials, while 88% said they were better able to manage daily life. About 87% reported improved family relationships and engagement in school or other activities.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Shannon Back said the program started to focus on prevention and early intervention to “hopefully prevent future crimes from being committed.”

The program also coordinates intervention meetings involving law enforcement, probation officers, attorneys and social workers.

“One contact with a student can change their whole direction,” said Jose Flores, an investigator with the DA’s Office. “Just having somebody that genuinely cares and is willing to support them can change a student’s path.”

Still, some critics have questioned the role of law enforcement on school campuses, particularly in secondary schools, raising concerns that such programs can feel more like surveillance than support.

Flores said those concerns rarely come from families directly involved. Participation requires parental consent, and in many cases, families actively seek out the program.

“We are never there to target,” Flores said. “Parents authorize our participation, and often they’re the ones reaching out because they want that mentorship for their students.”

For one student, his involvement in the program has created a shift.

At the start of the year, family responsibilities and stress at home shaped how he approached school, said the sixth grader. He often struggled with attendance, sometimes skipping school to help care for his baby brother while his mother worked.

“I didn’t want (my mom) to be frustrated,” he said. “For a long time… I just dealt with it by myself.”

Since joining GRIP, school staff say they’ve seen noticeable changes.

“He attends school more consistently, participates in class, and has taken on a role assisting teachers,” Flores said.

The student said his outlook has changed, emphasizing the importance of support and motivation.

“I feel like I have more community,” he said.

Garden Grove Police Chief Amir Al-Farrah said he has seen the program’s impact firsthand, particularly among students facing attendance issues, academic struggles or challenges at home.

“I feel really privileged to say I was one of the first officers involved,” Al-Farrah said.

The goal, he said, is simple: Reach students early and guide them in a positive direction.

“Everything starts with our youth,” he added. “If we keep them on the right path, good things will come.”