Gang resistance program graduates 89

New Haven (WTNH) - New Haven fifth grade students are the first to graduate from the police department's gang resistance program.

Police officers came to their classrooms at the Betsy Ross school to talk to the kids about avoiding violence.

The program also builds a better relationship between officers and youngsters, a lesson they hopefully will carry over into the summer.

"It's a life lesson that everybody should know," Avolyn Nieves, a fifth grade said when asked about the program.

Students learned how to successfully deal with anger through the program.

"When people are being mean to you or annoying you, tell someone or a teacher," Courtney Strout, a fifth grader said.

89 students earned certificates and a t-shirt.

Police plan to teach the program next school year as well.