A CONSTABLE WITH A PURPOSE-DARE

Any time a police officer is willing to volunteer his or her time for
the community, the level of respect for them skyrockets. Especially
when it is as sincere as the efforts of Constable Mike Leiding.
Recently a recipient of a Youth Champion Asset Building Award for his
volunteerism, Constable Leiding has proven again and again that he
truly cares and wants to use his position to positively influence
those who need it most.

Youth are always vulnerable to bad influences . They are also very
receptive to good influences and many believe want to follow, whenever
possible, a positive life path. As Ken Heuser, chairperson of the
Child and Youth Committee, quoted from a study done on today's youth,
"If five caring unrelated or extended family adults are present in the
life of a young adolescent, it makes the difference between whether or
not that child becomes successful." Constable Mike Leiding makes one.

D.A.R.E. B.C. is a prevention program involving the community, the
schools and the R.C.M.P. It stands for Drug Abuse Resistance
Education. The first phase of the program focuses on Grade Five
students. The students are given important decision making skills to
help them make good choices, resistance skills to refuse offers of
drugs and alcohol in a confident manner, education on how to recognize
and resist peer pressure, education on harmful drugs including alcohol
and tobacco and how it negatively effects their developing body and
brain, alternatives to drug use and the accompanying side effects,
affirmation that most kids choose not to use drugs and a positive
atmosphere for the kids to interact with someone like Constable Leiding.

The D.A.R.E. program is in over 120 communities in B.C. On Thursday,
February 12th, the students of Vermilion Forks School graduated from
their D.A.R.E. program and received a certificate, a book and t-shirt
for their participation. Some of the students performed skits to show
ways in which their peers could refuse offers to try drugs, including
tobacco.

Constable Leiding has been teaching the program for 4 years, but will
be replaced by Constable Brad Matchum. "I am transferring," said
Leiding. "The purpose of teaching D.A.R.E. is to have the students
learn about drugs and alcohol and to help them make the right decision
when confronted with a choice. We talked about peer pressure, how to
use humour, walk away, just say no or change the subjects as options
to say no with confidence." Leiding, admitted, "I have never tried
drugs myself, but I know they are bad - just like I have never touched
a red hot element. I know it is hot and I don't want to burn my hand.
Drugs lead to a lot of bad choices. A drug is considered anything that
alters your thinking. Leiding said, "I bet 80 or more percentage of
our calls are alcohol related."

Thank-you's went out to "Overwaitea for supplying refreshments for the
graduation ceremony and to Dairy Queen for the Dilly Bars" praised
Leiding. Grade Five teacher, Mr. Miller, said to the students, "We
need to thank Constable Leiding. He does this because he wants to not
because he has to." Mayor McLean commended Leiding, "for making a
difference. We need more R.C.M.P. officers like you, Mike. The
community thanks you for working with the kids to help them avoid the
use of drugs."