Though the local group doesn't quantify its success, it hosted a holiday party last week for the students and families to celebrate their accomplishments.
"The way I look at it as a policemen, is directing traffic," said President of the West Valley Jeopardy Foundation Michael Sirota. "We're at the end of the street and you have a kid come along and the kid is in trouble and he's trying to decide if he should go to gangs, go to crime or go to school. And the police officer directs him in the right direction."
There were more than 23,000 verified violent gang crimes in the City of Los Angeles during the last five years, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. These included 784 homicides and nearly 12,000 felony assaults. The Jeopardy Program is working to help curb that statistic and teach children the importance of a good education.
"If I wouldn't have joined the program I'd probably be on the streets or getting high," said 19-year-old Rafael Manuel [whose last name is withheld to protect his privacy]. "It definitely changed my life a lot."
Rafael Manuel explained how the officers not only helped him academically, but also athletically. The students go to Birmingham High for Jeopardy after school to complete their homework. Afterward, they are able to participate in creative and productive alternatives to life on the streets such as field trips, drama, arts and crafts or sports. There are officers, tutors and counselors to help the child with their daily needs.
"They were the first ones to introduce me to sports," he said. "After you finish your homework they take you to play. They taught me football and I was offered a scholarship to Boise State and Oregon to play."
Manuel suffered a knee injury and had to opt out of football, but he is still very optimistic about the future. He has maintained good grades and is aiming to become a broker.
Gloria Fernandez said her son is another success story. She was having a difficult time with her son and decided to enroll him in the program. Fernandez said he developed a positive attitude, responsibility and now pays for his own college tuition.
"He's trying to become a parole officer now because he wants to help people the way the officers helped him," she said. "He also helps tutor for Jeopardy and now kids come to him for advice and they listen."
The Jeopardy program is funded through grants and is free to participants. It was originally started by police officers in 1991 and has more than 20 different programs throughout Southern California today.
"These youth programs are imperative in keeping our children focused and it gives them hope that life is worth making the right decisions," said LAPD Officer Mike Noji who has been involved in the city-wide program for about four years. "It's through these programs that the Los Angeles Police Department is able to unite with the community and keep our at-risk youth from choosing a life of crime."
He's talking about kids like Alondra [her last name is withheld to protect her privacy]?, who admitted she was hanging out with a bad crowd before joining the program.
"I just wanted to fit in and I was doing things that were getting me into trouble," the 16-year-old said. "[Jeopardy] pushes you to do your homework and it keeps me motivated. It's nice to have someone who cares for you so much. It's helped to open my eyes." | 
