SHEPPARD JOINS CONCORDIA PARISH DRUG EDUCATION PROGRAM

VIDALIA -- After completing the two-week training program, Officer
Bobby Sheppard said he is proud to be Concordia Parish's newest
D.A.R.E. officer.

Sheppard teaches classes for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
program at Ferriday Lower Elementary School every Wednesday.

After taking his own classes to prepare to teach, Sheppard said he
has an appreciation for what the parish school teachers go through
on a day-to-day basis.

Sheppard said each day his class had instructors come in and teach
the officers from different parishes lessons on different aspects of
education, from child behavior to adjusting from the field to a
classroom environment.

"The two weeks I spent in the classroom were very demanding,"
Sheppard said. "They throw so much information at us in so short of a time."

Now that it is his turn to teach, Sheppard said he enjoys working
with children and can tell he is making a difference.

"I tell my group if they will respect me, I'll respect them,"
Sheppard said. "These kids are intelligent and they can tell if you
want to be there with them."

"Their enthusiasm toward me when I teach lets me know I've made an
impact," Sheppard said.

In a press release Sheriff Randy Maxwell stressed how important the
D.A.R.E. program is for children.

"It's crucial to reach our children and get the message across that
drugs, alcohol and violence will be detrimental to them, their
families and their communities," Maxwell stated.

"Bobby Sheppard is a perfect choice to serve as a D.A.R.E.
instructor. I know he is going to do a great job with the students."

Sheppard said the program for students is broken down into one
lesson each week for 10 weeks.

One week, for example, Sheppard said he might teach about the
affects of tobacco and the next he might teach about the affects of marijuana.

The children take quizzes, participate in group projects and keep a
weekly log about what they learned in the class that day.

"It is my job to give them the factual knowledge about drugs and
give them the tools that they need to make healthy choices and wise
decisions in their lives," Sheppard said.

Sheppard said he has a profound belief in the program and hopes he
will remain a D.A.R.E. officer for a long time.

"I just hope I will come into contact with these kids in the future,
see that they have become successful and give some credit to the
D.A.R.E. program," Sheppard said.