DELANO OFFICERS LAUD DARE PROGRAM

DELANO -- For Delano policeman Keith Powers, his involvement with the
community's first Drug Abuse Resistance Education program had one drawback:
It'll be a tough act to follow next year.

Delano's DARE program wrapped up in March, graduating 763 fifth-graders.

DARE is the most widely used program to discourage drug use among
schoolchildren, targeting especially those in elementary and middle school.

It is taught in about 75 percent of school districts nationwide, including
those in Kern County.

Three officers in Delano -- Powers, Benjamin Rutledge and Manuel Flores --
received training for DARE education last summer after intensive two-week
courses administered by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

While there, officers were trained on public speaking and given tips on how
to teach children while not coming off as too preachy.

Police Chief Jack Griggs touted the program as "the single best tool the
department has to fighting drug abuse in Delano."

For now, the program involves only fifth-graders in Delano.

Delano DARE officers often have to give presentations to classes, as well
as conduct after-school activities aimed at dissuading children from
substance abuse.

Powers, who started with the Delano force as a reserve officer in 1989,
credited the program with breaking down barriers between children and
police, making officers more approachable.

"In the past, when an officer came onto a campus, you'd hear 'Who are you
here for?' or 'What happened?'" Powers said.

"Now, it's like 'Hey, Officer Powers, gimme five' or 'Do you want to play
some basketball?' The whole attitude has changed."

DARE classes run 17 weeks from September to March.

Plans already are in the works for next year's class, said Powers, also the
community resource officer for Almond Tree Middle School.