leeap

Law Enforcement Education Achievement and Prevention

Want to make a difference in the life of a child?

LEEAP is a mentoring program coordinated by the Pierce County Sheriff's department that matches at-risk youth with mentors from throughout the community. These mentors help to monitor the child's grades and behavior, work with schools and law enforcement, and spend time with the child in activities such as movies, meals, and sports events. The program is dependent on grants and donations from the community, so all of this is at no cost to the program's participants.

If you know a Junior High or High School student who would benefit from LEEAP, or if you are interested in becoming a mentor contact:

Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Ken Board
Call him at (253) 798-3278 or email him at kboard@co.pierce.wa.us

More Information on LEEAP

WHAT IS LEEAP?

LEEAP is a mentoring program coordinated by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department that matches at-risk youth with mentors from throughout the community.

These mentors:
- help to monitor the child's grades and behavior
- work with schools and law enforcement
- spend time with the child in activities such as movies, meals, and sports events.

HOW DID LEEAP GET STARTED?

LEEAP was started several years ago by Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor. It was originally referred to as 'Carrots and Sticks'.

He was looking at ways for the Sheriff's Department to with youth at risk that would involve the Sheriff's Department and Sheriff's Deputies.

WHO WORKS FOR LEEAP?

LEEAP is an all volunteer group of adult men and women mentors, including:
- Sheriff's Deputies
- Corrections Officers
- Corrections Nurses
- Attorneys
- Judges
- Pierce County Civilian Employees
- City of Tacoma Civilian Employees
- Pacific Lutheran University Employees

WHO DOES LEEAP HELP?

LEEAP works with Junior High and High School aged Youth at Risk.

The five school districts in the program are:
- Bethel School District
- Franklin Pierce School District
- Puyallup School District
- Peninsula School District
- University Place School District
...and we have approached the White River School District.

WHAT DOES LEEAP DO?

LEEAP mentors monitor the behavior of the kids both at home and at school as well as monitors their grades.

They work with the parents for solutions to problems the kids might be having.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FUN STUFF?

We hope to have fun group events each month for the kids and the mentors including:
- Paintball
- Frightfest at Enchanted Parks
- Museum of Flight
- Pacific Lutheran University football games
- Ice Skating at Sprinker Recreation Center
- Anything else suggested by the kids and mentors!

We also run two annual events for the kids and the mentors:
- Mini Camp/Police Academy
- Banquet dinner for kids and their families

Click here to see photos our kids and mentors in action...

WHO PAYS FOR LEEAP?

LEEAP is paid for through local grants and donations from the community. The program is dependent on grants and donations from the community, so all of this is at no cost to the program's participants!!

EXAMPLES OF DONATIONS?

- A private citizen, learning of the program, donated a laptop computer in 2007 to be given to a kid who did not have a computer.

- Pierce County donated ten surplus computers to the program for the kids to check out and use for homework and school project purposes.

- Pacific Lutheran University donated tickets to football games other sporting events at PLU.

- Passes were donated to use the ice skating facilities at the Sprinker Recreation Center.

- At the banquet, each participating kid was given a North Face backpack crammed full of assorted school supplies free of charge.

HOW IS LEEAP DOING SO FAR?

LEEAP is doing very well! We currently have 10 kids in the program, and 18 mentors. LEEAP can currently support 20 kids, although we hope to expand that number in the future. The schools currently involved in the program are excited to be a part of this. The counselors, administrations and teachers constantly make recommendations. Future plans are to contact other police agencies and help them establish programs of their own.