Los Angeles Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Departments Join the Fight to Combat Hate NR11342SF

Los Angeles: Public safety officials launch the Stop Hate And Respect Everyone (SHARE) Tolerance campaign that encourages the youth and the community to celebrate individual diversity.

At a news conference held earlier today, Los Angeles Police Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca unveiled a billboard that read “SHARE Tolerance-Join Our Fight To Combat Hate.”  

The Stop Hate And Respect Everyone Tolerance Program was developed by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs’ Departments to combat and reduce hate crimes.  The SHARE program focused on students in the 9th and 10th grades.  Soon after the SHARE Program began, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hate Crimes Unit adopted the SHARE Program and customized it for kids between the 4th and 8th grades.  

The common goal for both Departments is to prevent youth from committing hate crimes and to promote the importance of respecting and accepting each other’s differences.  Ideally, the students who participated in the SHARE Program would pass along what they have learned to their peers and siblings as they move up into junior and senior high schools.  “We believe it is vitally important to teach our children early on, that “different” does not always equal bad.” Chief Paysinger said.

Sheriff Lee Baca said, “Deputy Sheriffs and police officers have the public’s trust, they have leadership skills, and they care. S.H.A.R.E. Tolerance is a great example of our Department’s Core Values that each of us displays the courage to ‘stand against racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, and bigotry in all its forms.”

Together Chief Paysinger and Sheriff Baca retold the message that mutual respect allows people the opportunity to live a life without concern of sanctions, disapproval and fear.  It is the key to ending property crimes and crimes against humanity that are based in ignorance and hate.  

As of July 25, 2011, the LAPD Hate Crimes Unit has completed SHARE Presentations at:

June 2010-Excel Charter Academy for 74 8th Grade Students  
September 2010-135th Street School for 180 4th & 5th grade students
October 2010- Excel Charter Academy for 231 6th,7th, 8th grade students
January 2011-Transfiguration & Immaculate Conception Catholic Schools for 4th-8th grade students
March & April 2011-Windsor Hills Math and Science Magnet School for 4th-8th grade students

For more information regarding the Stop Hate And Respect Everyone (SHARE) Tolerance Program, please call LAPD Detective Support and Vice Division, Hate Crime Unit at 213-996-1390, or e-mail at: hatecrimesunit@lapd.lacity.org