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D.A.R.E. Program


D.A.R.E. is the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program. The program was developed jointly by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1983. In the following years, several thousand localities in the United States and other Countries have begun D.A.R. E. Programs. In 1990, the Gloucester Township Police Department had one officer trained as a D.A.R.E. Officer at an instructor's school offered by the Philadelphia Police Department. The pilot program for the GLoucester Township Police D.A.R.E program was launched in 1991. The initial pilot program consisted of a total of five fifth grade classes at two different schools. The results of the pilot program were very positive, and resulted in all fifth grade classes in Gloucester Township receiving D.A.R.E. instruction beginning in 1992.

D.A.R.E. teaches resistance skills to students in the targeted fifth grade level. It also attempts to enhance the child's sense of self esteem. Both of these areas have been identified to empower children to resist pressures to become involved in DRUG and ALCHOL ABUSE. D.A.R.E. strives to increase rapport between the children and the police. The D.A.R.E. lessons were originally comprised of ten specific lesson plans but over the last two years several lessons have been added. The new lessons teach students about bullying/harrassment, internet safety and the newest is on presciption drug abuse.

The current school year involved all the public and private elementary schools in Gloucester Township for a total of ten schools in Gloucester Township with a total of approximately 1,100 students. Two officers are assigned full time to the same schools for approximately three-four months. There is an adddiontal third officer who assists the officers and also teaches at one school when not performing his regular duties.

Each D.A.R.E. lesson requires approximately 45 minutes of class time. The officer teaches the D.A.R.E. program at the fifth grade level as this is the exit grade prior to them leaving elementary school to enter middle school. The D.A.R.E. Officer has the opportuinity to interact with the students at recess, school events, field trips and lunch. This enables the officer to develop a positive rapport with the students.

Currrent D.A.R.E. instructors: Inv. Brian Farrell, Marc Grodzielanek, Officer David Belcher

Police Appreciation Week

As part of the Society Improvement Program, the Gloucester Township Public Schools annually celebrate Police Appreciation Week. Timed to coincide with National Police Memorial Week in May, the program is the schools' way of saying thank you to the local police. All schools open their doors to all members of the Police Department, who are encouraged to drop in for a visit while on duty. Officers who do not usually get to interact with the students are able to visit and speak with the students informally. Officers are welcomed in the classrooms and lunchrooms, often staying for lunch or other activities. Individual schools plan special activities for the police officers. These include plays, assemblies, and even a drawing for a dinner as the students' guest at a local restaurant.

So that the celebration is not one-sided, the department responds with special events of their own. In the past we have arranged for special units of other law enforcement agencies to participate in the program. These have included the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, the Camden County Park Police Mounted Unit, the Camden County Sheriff's Department K-9 Unit, Aviation Unit, and the Underwater Dive Team, the F.B.I., A.T.F., and the US Customs Service K-9 Unit. The Gloucester Township Police Department puts on demonstrations and displays of police equipment and techniques, including the K-9 Unit and Special Response Team. Officers also play volleyball with faculty and students of township middle schools.

D.W.I. Educational Community Program

Uniformed police officers make presentations to high school students or adult community group members about intoxicated driving. These programs are given in lecture format accompanied by appropriate video presentations. The demonstration of various police equipment used in DWI cases may be included.

Additional information will be provided through a "question and answer" session between the officers and the group. Appropriate printed literature targeted to the audience will be distributed during the program.

Some of the objectives of this program include:

  • The participants will be able to describe the effects of alcohol on vision, judgement, and physical dexterity which impair the ability to drive.
  • The participants will be able to cite moral and legal responsibilities to prevent others who are under the influence of alcohol from driving.
  • The participants will be able to describe the current DWI laws, law enforcement procedures and penalties in the State of New Jersey.