A youth intervention program that has shaped generations of local families reached a major milestone this month as the El Monte Police Department marked 25 years of its Torch program and celebrated the graduation of its 50th class.
Founded in 2001, the Teaching Obedience, Respect, Courage and Honor program, commonly known as Torch, was created to provide an alternative to incarceration for at-risk youth. The program serves juveniles ages 13 to 17 and focuses on accountability, discipline, and redirection through structured mentorship and family involvement.
On Dec. 6, officers, families, and community supporters gathered to recognize both the program’s 25th anniversary and the graduation of Class 50. The ceremony highlighted Torch’s long-standing role as a cornerstone youth program in El Monte.
A Longstanding Youth Intervention Program
Torch is operated by the El Monte Police Department and accepts participants referred by local schools or patrol officers who come into contact with juveniles and their families. Youth may come from El Monte or surrounding communities, provided they meet age requirements.
The program runs for 12 weeks, with students meeting Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants take part in physical training, community service, mentorship, and career guidance. Officers involved in Torch describe it as a demanding but supportive environment focused on long-term behavior change.
What sets Torch apart, police officials say, is its family-centered design. As youth complete the program, parents are required to attend parallel parenting classes. Officers said the approach recognizes that adolescent behavior is often connected to challenges at home.
Building Accountability at Home
Program staff said parenting classes were added after recognizing that many families lacked tools or resources to address destructive adolescent behavior. The shared experience allows parents and children to work toward change together, often improving communication and consistency at home.
One El Monte mother whose son entered Torch after time in juvenile hall credited the program with altering her family’s trajectory. She said Torch provided structure and discipline when her son was at a critical turning point.
Today, she said, her oldest son is 26, attending college full time and working, a path she attributes in part to the program. That experience led her family to enroll their younger son, now 13, in Torch as well.
Community Impact Over 25 Years
Officers involved with Torch said many graduates return years later to share how the program helped them make better choices and rebuild confidence. They said preventing youth from joining gangs, escalating criminal behavior, or entering the justice system improves both individual outcomes and community safety.
At the Class 50 graduation, families gathered to celebrate the completion of a demanding program that emphasizes respect for oneself, parents, and the community. Police officials said those values remain central as Torch enters its next 25 years.
Department leaders expressed gratitude to the families, volunteers, and community partners who have supported Torch since its inception. For El Monte families facing difficult moments, officials said the program continues to offer structure, accountability, and a second chance.
