DARE OFFICERS GRADUATE

There have been many Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) grads
held in Yorkton over the years but never one like last week.

The RCMP, utilizing the SIGN on Broadway building, held a ceremony
recognizing the culmination of two weeks of DARE officer training.

Residents and students who know about the program may not be aware
just how keen the officers are, and how motivated they are to make a
difference.

While the world of law enforcement might be viewed as dangerous and
something only for the thick skinned, the tears and emotions at the
ceremony expressed how becoming a DARE officer can change their lives
forever.

RCMP officer Nicholas Morisset, was chosen by fellow candidates as the
one who showed the most leadership among them.

"It's amazing all of us came together really, really close. It was
really an overwhelming experience these last two weeks," he said at
the ceremony, adding it will be strange to return to normal life and
his duties at his detachment.

Morisset suggests while the life of a police officer does involve the
negative, the DARE program offers them something different.

"When you see a kid in a school running towards you smiling it's
priceless."

Taking the new DARE officers through their training was a group of
five mentors. Commander Bobby Robinson of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff
's Office in Louisiana was one of them.

Explaining that DARE America has programs running in all 50 states, he
said, "Each one of you will make a difference in the lives of children."

Robinson says after 23 years working in law enforcement the DARE
program allowed the shell around his inner self to disappear.

"Don't let your hard heartedness prevent you from shedding a tear," he
said, emotions welling up in his eyes.

He said any program can have the best guidelines, top notch training
but it is the person running it, the individual, who is going to make
the greatest difference.

"The DARE program has made me a better person, a better father, a
better husband and just a better citizen," he says.

Staff Sergeant Gerry Gourlay says there is a lot of pressure on
detachment commanders like himself to utilize resources the best they
can.

"Often times it is the DARE program that is questioned by superior
officers so it is very important for DARE officers and mentors to keep
this program in the best light."

In Yorkton, he has received much positive feedback about the
program.

He says one of the side benefits of it is it puts RCMP officers in a
different light in the eyes of children.

"They get to know the officers by their first name and have a really
good working relationship," Gourlay says, adding, DARE officers are
special because they want to work with youth and be in the schools.

The graduation was also the occasion to recognize long term support of
the DARE program by the Saskatchewan Elks Association.

Chairman Bruce Schwanbeck, made a $10,000 contribution towards the
program, the first of a three-year overall commitment of $30,000 to
train DARE officers.

The money for the program is raised through a joint effort of the RCMP
and the Elks who annually host the Peace 100 snowmobile derby.

"This is about our ninth year that we're going to be doing this," says
Schwanbeck. "It's very important. If it takes $10,000 to save one
child's life it is worth it because it's worth a lot more than that."

The graduation ceremony saw Military Police from CFB Suffield and
Dundurn, and municipal police officers from Prince Albert take the
training. It will undoubtedly have a broad positive impact.

"It's going to get bigger. It has to with all these new drugs out
there. I just hope we can carry on and I will do my best to ensure it
is," Schwanbeck pledged.

The ceremony wrapped up with a surprise appearance by students from
Dr. Brass who gave each officer their DARE Bear (a tradition of the
program). It proved to be a very moving and memorable moment for all
graduating officers.

Many shared hugs and shed tears of joy from the experience.