FIRST COUNTY DARE PROGRAM TO START SOON IN LINTON FIFTH GRADES

The Linton Police Department and Linton-Stockton Elementary School are
collaborating to bring the nationwide DARE program to the school's
fifth-graders.

Standing for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, DARE educates kids about
the pitfalls of drug abuse and ways of combating it, according to LPD
Chief Troy Jerrell, the impetus for the program. He said Patrol
Officer Debbie McDonald will teach a class at least once a week that
will focus on different aspects of drug abuse and ways to resist it.

"It's just at Linton at this time," Jerrell said. "It's targeted at
the fifth-grade education level, and there will be at least a minimum
of one class a week. The details are yet to be determined."

He said the class is being offered in cooperation with the school
system and will last throughout the school year. Some examples of
topics for the one-hour class periods, according to the police chief,
include ways to fight drug abuse, peer pressure, different drugs and
the way they affect the body, alternatives to drugs to escape feeling
of anger and depression, and cause and effect.

"The main theme is 'don't use drugs,' " Jerrell said. "Every class is
different."

He said the DARE program has different items the teachers can use,
including reading materials and handouts.

"DARE is not just education," Jerrell said. "That's one of the main
focuses, but DARE is also interaction of the police with students so
they begin to build a rapport."

He explained that the weekly interaction with students by someone from
the police department shows the students that the police are there to
protect them and help them. In addition, he said, it gives them
another person to talk to about issues such as drug abuse if they need
it.

"My hopes are that we can strengthen our relationship between the
police and school S," said LSES Superintendent Ron Bush. "It's an
avenue for police to work with students and teachers to help kids
learn to make better choices.

"I appreciate that the police wanted to bring the program into the
school and sponsor it. I'm happy that they're wanting to work with
us."

Jerrell said he hopes there will be other opportunities for the LPD to
interact with students through the DARE program.

"There may be summer things like camp, as well, that we can do," he
said. "It's a new program, so we're learning as we go."

McDonald will finish her DARE training around the end of September, so
Jerrell expects classes to begin around the first of October. He said
DARE instructors have to meet certain criteria before being accepted.
He said McDonald has to be a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement
Academy, has to have been a police officer for a certain length of
time, and has to be approved by her chief and the school.

"I'm real excited about this program," Jerrell said. "The school has
been overwhelmingly willing to work with us on this program. The
mayor, as well, has been a positive influence in getting it done, and
the Linton Elks Lodge gave us $300 to help with the training."

LSES Principal Kent Brewer also is enthusiastic about the program. He
said unfortunately some children are exposed to the methamphetamine
problem in Greene County. He said they need to know the hazards.

"I'm excited getting to work with the police department and getting an
officer into the school to let kids get more comfortable with and get
to know police officers," he said. "Also to get the kids to know about
the dangers of drugs.

"It's going to be real important to work smart and get the class
molded into the curriculum."

He said when McDonald finishes her training, she and the teachers will
work out the details of the class.

"Hopefully it's a start to a partnership with the school," Jerrell
said. "I hope it's a start to working with the kids of the community."

He said he hopes to have a police officer in the schools even more in
the future and is currently seeking a $20,000 grant through the
Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to facilitate just that.

"If we can get it, we'll be able to have a police officer in the
school 50 to 60 percent of the time, where they will work with kids
and the school staff on ways to keep them out of trouble," he
explained. "It's not for punishment, but to work with the school and
kids.

"The basis is graduated sanctions - a stair-step level - trying to
keep kids out of the law enforcement system. I'm hoping it'll be a
positive influence with students to deter crime and also create a
rapport with them."

The idea, he said, is to put positives into the students' lives and
way of thinking to keep them out of trouble.

"For minor offenses, we may be able to take care of them at school
with the officer before it gets to the court system," Jerrell said,
adding that he hopes to also utilize the officer to deal with any
truancy problems and keep kids in school.

"There are very many positive aspects that I see," he said.