Santa Barbara Police Department "DRAGG Car" Featuring Vertical Doors, Inc., Vertical Lambo Door Conversion Kit

Santa Barbara Police Expands Custom Car Program For At-Risk Students

The Santa Barbara Police Department has unveiled a new vehicle it calls a DRAGG Car. DRAGG (Drag Racing Against Gangs and Graffiti) is a non-profit educational organization for students.

Despite the name, there is no plan to race the car. Instead, the Santa Barbara Police activities league is using the new Chevrolet Camaro to expand an after school program for high school students in the county.

Kids enrolled in the program meet in an off-campus shop and learn automotive technology with industry mentors.

Sergeant Eric Beecher teamed with Oxnard police, who have had a similar program for eight years.

“You know, I look forward to many years of getting kids back on track and helping get jobs and go to school, or whatever they want to do with their lives. That’s what we’re here to do, so it’s the police department, the community, and the school district all coming together,” said Beecher.

The organization’s goal is to offer at-risk youth with an alternative to gang affiliation, providing them the skills needed to go to a vocational college or pursue further education in engineering.

Source: kclu.org / MAR 5, 2018