Crime Prevention & Intervention Unit

Carrying on the legacy of "Deputy Dawg" Frank Sumner, the mission of the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention and Intervention Unit (CPIU) is to reduce crime by providing on-going educational programs to the youth of our community. The CPIU works to mentor, counsel, advise, and tutor kids between the ages of 6-17 in Dougherty County. This work involves assisting students with their academics (school lessons and/or homework) or with social issues (gangs, drugs, suicide, running away, etc.) they may be struggling with at school or at home.

The CPIU teaches various character education programs to students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The goal is to educate students about the dangers and/or consequences of making bad choices when dealing with issues on dating, drugs, gangs, strangers, etc. Additionally, the CPIU works to educate citizens and parents by providing workshops about the culture surrounding our children. These workshops include tips for parents in dealing with issues such as gangs, drugs, social media, etc.

The character education programs taught by the CPIU are provided as a part of the C.H.A.M.P.S. (Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety) program. This program allows us to help students recognize and resist the many direct and subtle pressures that influence them to experiment with alcohol or drugs, join gangs, engage in violence, or other harmful behaviors.

The C.H.A.M.P.S program provides an excellent platform to educate children on current issues which may harm their development and challenge their growth. The curriculum includes such classes as Alcohol, Bullying, Choices & Consequences, Cocaine, Gangs, Home Alone, Safety/Child Abduction, Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Peer Pressure, Tobacco and & Understanding and Avoiding Violence. The C.H.A.M.P.S. program is flexible in allowing the school to choose its own curriculum and it also allows the instructor to share real life experiences and incorporate learning activities while covering the objectives of each lesson plan.