MOSES LAKE - When Moses Lake Police Chief Dave Ruffin took over the department, he stressed the importance of being a value-based organization. Enter Officer Rick Francis, who's working to get youth involved in the community.

Seniors from Tacoma Baptist School, on their way to a class trip to Silverwood, stopped by Moses Lake recently, helping pick up trash at McCosh and Blue Heron parks. Francis said the school contacted Andy Grenier, pastor of the First Baptist Church, about an community service project. Francis was contacted and was able to get the students out cleaning up for a few hours.

Francis, a member of the street crimes unit, interacts constantly with troubled youth and while enforcement may suppress youth crime or even move it out of the city, the problem is still there.

"If we can get these kids to invest in the community, then what's going to end up happening is they will have more of a sense of not tolerating what's going on," Francis said.

Francis brought the idea of the program to the Moses Lake Ministerial Association about two months ago, hoping to have youth programs from faith-based groups set an example by getting involved. From there, other community groups would get involved.

Whether picking up trash or covering up graffiti, Francis said youth will take pride in their community.

Francis said he based the program on a military strategy of "winning the hearts and minds."

"I could spend the next 20 years chasing him (a youth) or I could spend the next couple years trying to change him," he said.

Ruffin said he applauds the effort of Francis, the chaplains and other officers who have stepped up in the community, whether it's community service projects or coaching youth sports.

For more information on the program or to get involved contact Francis at the Moses Lake Police Department at 509-764-3887.