Topeka Police say gang members are active in Topeka and that numerous shootings and a number of homicides in the city can be linked to gang violence.

Now, Topeka Schools and the Topeka Police Department are teaming up to breakdown gangs in the area.

Officer John Gonzales works with sixth graders at Eisenhower Middle School, teaching them how to stand up and not be bullied by gang members.

"They can be dangerous," says Sixth Grader Tyja Tibbs.
"They can have guns and you can get hurt," says Karissa Davis, another sixth grader.

"If you're hanging out with the wrong crowd, they can get you shot, stabbed, [or] killed," says Sixth Grader Martez Ray.

Gonzales admits gang members are to blame for various Topeka crimes.

Innocent bystanders and gang members could all become victims.

"It escalates in drug crimes and property crimes as well as personal crimes," says Gonzales. "A bullet has no name on it and if there's some random act of violence that may occur, you never know what innocent person is going to get injured."

It's too early to tell whether the program is working, but Gonzales says getting the message to kids is the key. He reminds the students, they have other options. "There are other choices to joining gangs," he says. "Sixth grade is the gateway time period; it's usually 11 and 12 years old when they start being influenced by gang activity."

Police will do their part to influence kids the right way.

"Just say no and walk away," Davis says, of what she's learned about staying away from gangs.

All the middle schools in Topeka's 501 District are a part of the program.

The US Justice Department recently awarded Topeka's Police Department with another year of grant money.