Pubdate: Sat, 16 Mar 2002
Source: Beaufort Gazette, The (SC)
Copyright: 2002 The Beaufort Gazette
Contact:  http://www.beaufortgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1806
Author: Chris Bender

SHERIFF'S OFFICE MIGHT KEEP DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM

Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner said he might not drop the D.A.R.E. 
program if state budget cuts don't end the training program at the S.C. 
Police Academy. Tanner said last fall he was looking at axing the program 
and replacing it with something else because he wasn't seeing results. 
Though he might not drop the program, Tanner said it won't be the same 
program it's been in the past.

The Drug Awareness and Resistance Education program targets fifth-graders 
and educates them about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Police 
departments across the state can get officers trained at the academy to 
become D.A.R.E. officers. However, it might be pulled from the academy 
because of the budget cuts. If that happens, Tanner said, he'll stop using 
the program.

Tanner thinks the D.A.R.E. program has too narrow a focus to be effective 
anyway. That's something he wants to change.

"We also want something to help with deterrence of gangs and school 
violence," Tanner said. "We want to follow these kids after they graduate 
the program as they go on to middle school and high school and after they 
graduate."

The county has used the program since 1990. However, there are no 
statistics to track how well the program has performed.

"That's a hard thing to do," Tanner said. "I know it isn't easy."

Another problem Tanner has with the D.A.R.E. program is its length. 
D.A.R.E. runs about 17 weeks.

"That's one of the things we'll definitely have to change," Tanner said. 
"We feel we can probably touch more students with a shorter program."

Tanner wants a program he can offer several times a year, rather than only 
once or twice. He said D.A.R.E. officers have been considering ways to make 
the program better and meet the needs of Beaufort County students.

"I think it's looking good," Tanner said. "I think the people of this 
county will be pleased with the program."

Beaufort Police Department Chief Jeff Dowling said his department is 
sticking with D.A.R.E. Dowling uses the program along with some other youth 
programs in local schools.

"Right now, we've had a lot of success with it," Dowling said. "I think 
we're going to continue with it."

Dowling said while cuts in funding from the state might affect how the 
police department administers the program, the department would consider 
what to do when that happens.

"We'll just have to see how everything goes," Dowling said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth