THEIR AIM: NO DRUGS, NO GANGS

Two deputies have brought two national programs to county schools.
They hope to teach children the dangers of drugs and gangs so
they'll stay away.

Meet two people who could have a lifelong positive impact on
students in Hernando County: sheriff's Deputies Carlo Daleo and
Vincent Gargano, who have brought two national education programs
into the schools.

Created to help children learn to make healthy choices, the programs
are for fifth- and sixth-graders. DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance
Education) and GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) will
be part of the school year for almost 3,000 Hernando students.

DARE, which teaches about drugs and their effects, has been around
since the 1980s and is well-received by educators, parents and students.

GREAT, a course about the dangers of gangs, is in its second year
here and growing strong, according to Daleo.

GREAT doesn't seek to glamorize or popularize gang ideals or to give
publicity to any gang, Daleo says. The instructors focus on positive
ideas, never mentioning gangs by name. They share facts - for
example, gangs have been around since the 1800s.

Another fact: Young people involved in gangs are 65 percent more
likely to be murdered than the average person is.

Kids tend to sit up and listen to stuff like that.

Then, the officers talk about getting involved with family, finding
healthy activities and choosing the right friends.

Gargano and Daleo are young, and they seem to get along with kids.
Both are known for combining humor with serious subject matter.

But they take their jobs seriously. The officers were required to go
through a rigorous selection process and extensive training.

They try to educate students - and adults - about particulars of gang life.

For instance: Someone wears one pant leg rolled because he or she
thinks it looks cool, not knowing it may be a gang tradition.

While walking down the street, that young person is spotted by a
gang member who sees this as a rival emblem. He could be beaten, or even shot.

Daleo and his wife have four children, ages 3 months to 7 years.
It's not hard to figure out why he's involved with GREAT, his
primary responsibility.

"It's scary to raise children in today's world. If I'm out there
helping make the community a better place, I feel good," he said.

Sometimes, he and his family bump into kids who have been through
his class. The youngsters usually come right up and start a conversation.

"I feel like I gave these kids a positive impression of what cops
are about. When they know you have a real life and real interests,
they carry that impression with them a long time," Daleo said.

Gargano agreed. "I can talk to kids and they hear me. They know I
play guitar. I'm young. I'm normal. I don't sit home and watch cop
shows and eat doughnuts," he said.

Once an Explorer Scout, Gargano later became an Explorer adviser.
That's where he found how rewarding it is to help kids stay safe.
His philosophy is simple.

If kids identify with the real person in the uniform, the DARE and
GREAT messages will mean even more. So the men build relationships.
Gargano will even play his guitar for students when he feels it's appropriate.

Daleo is always thinking of ways to engage kids. His goal is to show
that making good decisions and staying on the right side of the law
pay off in the short and long runs.

He carries his message of prevention and awareness to adults, too.
Outside the classroom, he speaks to civic groups, church groups and
anyone else who is interested.

"GREAT is an effective program.," he said. "We know - we're actually
in the classroom with the kids. 99 percent of them already know
about DARE so we get that enthusiasm to work with."

Some might wonder why schools without gang problems would need such
programs. But they aren't designed to cure something that has
already happened. They are preventive measures, with the emphasis on
handling peer pressure. Even if there aren't gangs in
school, knowledge and skills to make better choices are unbeatable tools.

"Deputy Daleo is very student-centered and that's what we look for
in people who work with our children," said Marcia Austin, principal
at J.D. Floyd Elementary. "The program can have a long-term impact.
It can change lives."

There's no disagreement on that issue from the School Board,
parents, or teachers. The kids like the programs and the deputies.

The next logical step is expansion, and Gargano has begun visiting
classes from kindergarten through fourth grade to create a presence
with younger kids.

He incorporates cyber-safety education in his messages to the community.

As part of the sheriff's youth programs, the deputies are doing
their best to connect early with children in the community.

Other department programs such as the Explorer Post, Summer Day
Camp, Collision Avoidance Training and the Junior Deputy Academy add
strength to the bond between community children and law officers.

"All those uniforms and equipment aren't meant to intimidate kids -
we want them to know we're just there to help and keep them
protected," said Gargano