While in the police force, Mr. Bethel had seen that children were often arrested for minor crimes. They would be taken from school in handcuffs and wind up with a criminal record. Although they would be punished, many got into trouble again. He believed law enforcement could do a better job in helping kids. The School Diversion Pro- gram he started gets a social worker involved to help students put their lives on track. Mr. Bethel gives an example of how the program worked for one student who was caught with marijuana at school. Under the old system, she faced arrest and possible expulsion from her high school. Under the diversion program, the police came to the school, but instead of arresting her, they delivered a letter telling her family a social worker would visit her home within 72 hours. Kevin Bethel Helping kids get on track and out of trouble When he was grow- ing up in Philadel- phia, Kevin Bethel never thought about becoming a police officer. He attended a Catholic elementary school, graduated from a public high school, and enrolled in college, but soon dropped out. He took various jobs to earn money, including as a porter, kitchen helper, and carpenter’s helper at a hospital and as a package sorter for a delivery company. One day he noticed a recruitment poster for the Philadelphia Police Department. He applied because he thought it would lead to a better job. It turned into a 30-year career. Being a police officer gave him the opportunity to serve his community, he says. “My biggest joy is being out in the community talking to people,” Mr. Bethel says. After he retired a few years ago as deputy police commissioner, he had a new objective: He wanted to expand a program he had started at the Police Department that helps kids avoid arrest. 6 “ My biggest joy is being out in the community talking to people. ” —Kevin Bethel