SCHOOLS LOSE D.A.R.E., BUT GAIN RCMP LIAISON OFFICER

Sgt. Rick McIsaac, commanding officer for the Lake Country RCMP,
delivered his detachment's 2009 year end report to council last week.
Council was particularly concerned over the loss of the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education program (D.A.R.E.) in elementary schools and was
interested to learn more about what youth guidance initiatives would
replace the program.

McIsaac reminded council that the detachment would be gaining a
twelfth member in April and that beginning in September, that officer
would be a full time school liaison officer. The new position will put
a full-time police presence in all four of Lake Country's schools with
the intention of developing positive relationships between the
community's youth and law enforcement.

Of all of the officer's duties McIsaac says drugs and alcohol will be
an issue of paramount importance. One of the officer's duties will be
to work with school teachers to help teach a new alcohol and drug
resistance program modeled after one that is being used in Surrey.
While the new program is significantly shorter than D.A.R.E. it covers
basics such as setting goals, making healthy choices, peer pressure,
and information on drugs and their social and legal
consequences.

An initiative specifically for grade eight students to help them more
comfortable and confident as they adjust to their new surroundings at
the high school will be another duty of the liaison officer.

The officer will also be responsible for teaching traffic safety to
young drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

"We are only limited by our imaginations in what we can do with this
position," said McIsaac, encouraging council to bring their ideas forward.