North Durham's 'Kindergarten Cop' Keeping Kids On The Straight And Narrow

TAKING RACE AGAINST DRUGS INTO CLASSROOMS

Probably one of the most formative moments in a child's life comes with
their very first encounter with a police officer.

The moment of that encounter can direct how that child will think of police
as a whole for the rest of their lives. Constable Dan Courtney is looking
to make that encounter a positive one and he may just show up at your
child's school driving a race car to prove it.

Const. Courtney is a veteran Durham Regional Police officer whose latest
assignment is that of Elementary School Liaison Officer.

According to Staff Sergeant Paul Hamilton of the North Durham Community
Police Office, the job of Elementary School Liaison Officer entails a lot
of dedication on the part of the officers who take on the role referred to
in police circles as "the kindergarten cop."

"The duties of these officers include planning and implementing
street-proofing programs for students, planning anti-bullying classes,
talking to kids about violence and internet safety and helping with the
Racing Against Drugs Campaign.

The Racing Against Drugs Campaign is a program that introduces kids in
schools across Durham with the anti-drug message using racing as a theme.
Kids get the chance to meet race drivers and interact with various stations
themed around racing including a slot car track. Const. Courtney will have
little trouble relating to the race theme.

Dan Courtney is currently competing with his souped up Nissan Sentra sedan
in the Action Front Street Stock Challenge racing tour. The race series
pits Nissan sedans tricked out for high speeds on courses such as
Shannonville and the world famous Mosport Speedway and with a win in the
final race of the season at Mosport, Const. Courtney is taking aim at the
series championship next year. He feels it all benefits his police work.
"It gives me a common ground with many of the students I deal with," Const.
Courtney said. "I am dealing with kids who get a real kick out of race cars
and drivers and it is a chance to show them first hand that you can have a
lot of fun and thrills in your life without using drugs or alcohol." Const.
Courtney also hopes that bringing the race car, which is sponsored by the
Durham Regional Police Service, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Durham,
Nissan Canada, Alta Nissan and a group of sponsors put together by Matt
Garritano of Garritano Construction, to the schools he serves it will serve
as a conversation starter and focus the students on the skills and
responsibility needed to operate such a high power performance auto.

"I have raced Formula Ford, snowmobiles and other types of vehicles and
this is by far the most exciting racing," Const. Courtney said. "The race I
won had the first five cars to finish separated by 8/10 of a second."

Const. Courtney looks after 19 schools in the North Durham area and while
teaching programs like VIP (Values, Influence and Peers) he will try to
bring the car and his Positive Influence Racing Team to as many of those
schools as possible. Combine that with the appearances he makes with the
car at Community Police Week, special events and police day rallies as well
as appearances at local malls and you have a busy schedule.

"It is important to show kids that there are concrete rewards for deciding
against drug use and other behaviour that is a harmful to yourself and
others," Const. Courtney said. "We have to show kids that the immediate
rewards they perceive with drug use or other behavior is not worth giving
up the possible rewards later in life, like driving a race car or flying a
plane or anything else."

Next racing season Const. Courtney is hoping to gain some more corporate
funding for Positive Influence Racing so he can do even more public events
as well as taking a run at the championship in his series.

"I think it is an understatement to say that tens-of-thousands of people
have seen the car and heard the message this year,' Const. Courtney said.
"I hope to add the students at my schools to those numbers next year and
maybe foster a love of racing in them. Any focus a student can gain,
whether it is hockey, or baseball or racing, or just any interest, it is
another reason not to cloud their ambitions with drug and alcohol abuse."

To find out more or help sponsor Positive Influence Racing contact Const.
Dan Courtney at 1-888-579-1520, ext 2684. For more on the programs offered
by the Elementary School Liaison Officer in your child's school contact the
above number or your local School Community Council.