Crime Prevention & Youth Services
RESCUE Mentor Profile

Ted Cross, L.A.Co.F.D. Engineer

When Los Angeles County Firefighter Specialist Ted Cross saw a video on the RESCUE Youth Program, he immediately volunteered to become a mentor to a young man who needed a nudge in the right direction. He believed it was his responsibility to get involved in the community in which he worked, and he looked forward to helping his RESCUE student learn the lessons of the fire station: hard work, camaraderie, dependability, and team spirit. What he didn't know was how much he himself would grow as a man, as a father, even as a firefighter.

The boy who was paired with Ted -- we'll call him by his nickname, "Junior" -- came from a nightmarish home. Both parents were drug addicts; his father was in and out of jail. Junior and his brothers were living with their grandmother. School attendance was haphazard and Junior's grades were consequently underwhelming.

Ted met his new RESCUE student in November of 1995. Junior arrived on roller blades, sporting a backwards baseball cap, oversize shorts and a slip belt -- in other words, apprentice gang banger apparel. Ted let him know what was expected of him, both in terms of dress and achievement, and also discussed possible rewards in store if certain goals were met. The firefighter was encouraged by Junior's attitude, but reserved judgment until the boy would have an opportunity to prove himself.

Gradually, Junior did. Though there were a few missteps, mostly tardiness and unexcused absences from school, he steadily improved. At each new milestone, Ted was there with a new privilege, like allowing Junior to go along with the firefighters on emergency rescues, or a prized piece of firefighter gear, like the flashlight that comes with the RESCUE mentor's kit. Although tardiness remained a problem, the absences dwindled and quickly became a thing of the past. Consequently, Junior's grades began to improve. This despite, in Ted's words, "a continuous landslide of dysfunction at home."

By June of 1996, Junior had learned to rappel from the hose tower at the fire station, had learned countless knots commonly used by firefighters, knew how to take blood pressure readings and had learned other First Aid procedures. He had earned the respect of his mentor and the other firefighters. More than that, he had learned what it was like to have a man in his life he could respect, and who cared about him. He had seen the firefighters working together, depending on each other, taking responsibility for their own tasks and keeping faith with their extraordinary calling. As a result, his report card now boasted nearly straight A's. And he now had an ambition: he wanted to become a firefighter, just like his mentor, Ted Cross.

Before meeting Junior, Ted had a very hard-nosed attitude toward gang members and other youthful criminals. Now that he has seen first-hand the family situations from which some young people have come, he feels considerably more compassion toward them. "When I encounter gang members as a fireman now, that sympathy really makes a difference," he says. "I make a point of showing them respect, and in every instance that respect has been returned."

His relationship with Junior and his knowledge of the boy's home life also gave him an "overwhelming gratitude toward my own parents. They loved me too much to let me get out of control . . . the lack of an emotionally supportive father was crucial to this kid." Now, he makes it a point to spend quality time with his children, to let them know that they are important and valuable members of the family. "I put them first," he says. "If there's a conflict, we go play soccer [or whatever the kids need to do]." His renewed focus on his crucial role in the lives of his children was the greatest gift he got from Junior, and from RESCUE.

At Junior's graduation from the RESCUE program, Ted publicly thanked him for his extraordinary efforts and his tremendous progress. "You've honored me with what you've done," he said. "I'm grateful that you bestowed that honor on me with your actions."