By Joshua George

Special to the News-Herald

Nansemond River High School’s resource officer spoke to Career and Technical Education students recently about gangs and other issues facing teens.

David Chapman, a master police officer, delivered a presentation titled “The Big Lie: Unmasking the Truth Behind Gangs.”

The event was an opportunity for teens to learn about the false promises gang members make to lure them into their ranks.

In a video that was part of the presentation, law enforcement, gang members and children spoke about gang recruiting methods, specifying ways kids can avoid joining a gang. The documentary also offered information on alternative lifestyle choices that help kids stay away from gangs.

The second part of Chapman’s presentation was on “sexting” — the act of posting and sending sexually explicit or sexually suggestive messages, photographs, and videos, most often using cellphones.

Possible consequences of sexting range from personal humiliation to serious legal problems that could result in felony child pornography convictions, according to Chapman.

The final part of Chapman’s presentation, “Cyberbullies,” covered risks involved in the online platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, that have become standard forms of communication for many young people.

Unfortunately, they have also become popular ways to bully and harass others, according to Chapman, whose program was designed to prevent teenagers from falling victim to cyberbullying, using dramatizations and question-and-answer discussions to expand awareness of the issue.

At the end of the event, two students, Johnnie Whitaker and Margaret Runyon, presented Chapman with a gift.