OFFICER SAYS GOODBYE TO DARE

Shannon, Who Led Program For 14 Years, Was Favorite With Kids

Charleston Police Lt. John Shannon really likes working with the DARE program.

When he talks about the drug education effort aimed at fifth-graders, he
leans forward in his chair, throws his arms up, speaks loudly and smiles
like he just found a crumpled $10 bill in the folds of his jacket pocket.

So, it must be difficult for him, after 14 years of teaching youngsters
about the perils of drugs and alcohol, to give it up.

"To do that program properly and right, you have to devote a little bit of
time to it," Shannon said. "As I acquire rank on the police department, my
requirements, of course, stepped up. So, I've got to cut back somewhere and
somehow. It's a very difficult thing to do to not to teach DARE anymore."

Shannon, commander of the department's traffic division, has an increasing
workload that no longer allows him to devote as much time to DARE -- short
for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program -- as he once did.

It's possible he could spare the hour or so a week to go into a classroom
and recite the lesson planned out for him in the program's manual, but
Shannon says that is not where the kids he taught saw the most benefit.

"The program is much more effective when I can spend more time in a
laid-back, less structured setting. I find myself not being able to do that
anymore," he said.

By eating lunch with the students, playing checkers or just talking with
them one-on-one, Shannon said he can do more for them than if he just gave
his lesson and left. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Shannon likes kids. "I'll
miss it terribly. I truly do enjoy being around children. How they are is
how our world will be. I like high-fiving them. I like talking about stuff.
You can be relaxed around them," Shannon said.

The feeling is apparently mutual. During Shannon's final DARE graduation
ceremony at Kenna Elementary on Friday morning, fifth-grader Andrew Skeens
read an essay in which he called Shannon, "a great role model."

Deloris O'Brien, one of the two fifth grade teachers at the school, told
the audience gathered in the school's cafeteria that Shannon has done a
fine job.

"I can't tell you what a wonderful job he's done over the years," O'Brien
said. "It's been a wonderful 14 years."

Chief Jerry Pauley agrees.

"He's been one of our better DARE officers over the years," Pauley said.
"We can be walking through the mall together and an older kid will come up
to him and remember him from the program. They respect him, and that shows
a lot."

Shannon prefers not to take credit for the effect he's had on people.

"The people who need to be praised about this and the people who need to be
recognized about this are the teachers. The teachers make it very easy for
me to walk in the classroom, and all I have to do is open my manual and
talk about what's in there. I make assignments; they make sure it's done,"
he said.

Shannon also credited the kids who take part in the classes.

"I'm a very small part of this thing. Those kids take it to heart and go
from there," Shannon said.

Although Shannon will be missed in the role he's played for years, the DARE
program will continue at Kenna. The kids will have a new officer to get to
know, but Shannon's replacement hasn't been decided yet.