Pubdate: Sat, 23 Jul 2005 Source: Valley Morning Star (TX) Copyright: 2005 Valley Morning Star Contact: http://www.valleystar.com/letters.php Website: http://www.valleystar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/584 Author: Matt Lynch Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) POLICE GO BACK TO HIGH SCHOOLS Officers To Warn Against Drugs, Gangs, Violence HARLINGEN -- Uniformed police officers on duty will be regular sights at the city's two high schools when students return to classes next month. During a July 6 city commission meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to allow the city to assign uniformed officers to Harlingen High School South and Harlingen High School during the 2005-2006 school year. Commissioners also voted unanimously to allow police officers to participate in school district programs aimed at warning students of the dangers of drugs, gangs and violence. Tricia Morrow, assistant superintendent for elementary education, said the school district is thankful for its relationship with local police. "We've been very fortunate to have the cooperation with HPD," she said. "It's been a very productive program and our students have benefited from it." As part of the agreement, two officers will be assigned to Harlingen High School, and a third will be stationed at Harlingen High School South. "They are there full time (just) like the other staff members on campus. They respond to anything, like an administrator that deals with student safety issues," Morrow said. "They take their directions from a campus principal just like anyone else on campus." As part of the district's SAVE -- Substance Abuse, Violence and Education -- program, HPD officers will instruct district fifth-graders on the dangers of drugs and gangs. Officers meet with fifth-graders for nine-week blocks at each elementary school. Morrow said that if time permits, officers will move on to fourth-graders after completing the course with the fifth-grade population. "SAVE is patterned after the DARE program, but is different because DARE is a national program and there were things going on in our community we felt needed to be addressed," Morrow said. "The information can be delivered by a parent or a counselor, but there is a big difference when officers in uniform come in to talk to the students." Morrow said federal funds from a drug-free schools and community program will pay for much of the cost associated with the services. Mayor Rick Rodriguez said the decision was important for local children. "As a commission we felt the city and school district should work together to educate our children and ensure that they are well protected," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth