Pubdate: Tue, 02 Dec 2003
Source: Port Perry Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 Port Perry Star Co. Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.portperrystar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2533
Author: Rik Davie

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.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart