Pubdate: Mon, 14 Oct 2002
Source: Robesonian, The (NC)
Copyright: 2002 The Robesonian
Contact:  http://www.robesonian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1548
Author: Matt Elofson

POLICE REVIVE DARE PROGRAM

LUMBERTON - After a three-year hiatus, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education 
(DARE) program has been revived by the Lumberton Police Department.

According to police Chief Robert Grice, the Lumberton DARE program was 
dropped by Chief Randall Aragon in 1999 because he felt it wasn't a good 
use of officers' time and city money.

Nine DARE instructors are teaching a drug prevention-oriented program to 
the fifth-graders at Carroll Middle School. The instructors, who are 
Lumberton police officers, split up teaching three 45-minute classes that 
follow a 17-week lesson plan Monday through Thursday. The program focuses 
on such topics as peer pressure, the dangers of drugs and alcohol, how to 
say "No," self-esteem and decision making, said Capt. Clayton Oxendine, who 
coordinates the program for the police department. Each officer receives 
two weeks of training on how to teach the program, which is funded by the 
State Bureau of Investigation.

"When we first started the DARE program back in the '80s, we had a 
full-time DARE officer," Oxendine said. "Now we have nine part-time 
officers and they only have to spend an hour or two each week in the program."

DARE instructor Timmy Wilkins says he enjoys interacting with the students.

"We were glad to get it started back up again," he said. "We hope we can 
make a difference in everybody's lives. A lot of kids see police officers 
as a bad person. At least this helps leave a positive image in their minds."

Carroll Middle Principal Penny Britt says the DARE officers give the 
students the positive role models they need.

"DARE teaches them lessons in everyday life," she said. "We are teaching 
our children to be productive citizens, and our DARE officers help us with 
that goal. If these children here think of the police as friends, then in 
high school they will know they are there to help them."

But, Oxendine said, just because that message is being taught doesn't mean 
the students will hear it and do what is taught. He says it needs to be 
reinforced.

"They have to hear it from somewhere, so many don't hear the message at 
home today," he said.

Oxendine said the Police Department plans to restart the Gangs Resistance 
Education and Training (GREAT) program at Lumberton Junior High School in 
January. It also was stopped in 1999.

The Lumberton Police Department also has a DARE band composed of six 
officers, most of whom also teach in the DARE program. The band plays 
beach, country, rock n' roll and gospel music for the DARE graduation at 
Carroll Middle School and other city-sponsored functions like National 
Night Out.

"We try to intermingle with the kids, and try to get across a positive 
influence with them through playing our music and lecturing to them in 
between songs," said Wilkins, who plays the rhythm guitar.

Wilkins said the band practices once a week at the old Velcord building off 
Carthage Road.

Each time an instructor is scheduled to teach or the band is to play, an 
officer can put that time toward a day off at a later date. Or if the 
officer was scheduled to work at the same time, then it is considered work 
and the officer is paid for time spent playing.

The city of Lumberton and the county school system fund the program, which 
goes toward the purchase of supplies for the classes, like DARE T-shirts, 
pencils and powerpoint programs, Oxendine said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth