Youth/D.A.R.E

Welcome to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (D.A.R.E.). The Craig Police Department is committed to providing programs, like D.A.R.E., that provide positive alternatives to drugs, alcohol and violence for the youth of our community. 2003 will be the ninth year that the Police Department will be teaching the D.A.R.E. Program to the children of Craig. Our specially trained, certified D.A.R.E. instructor, Officer Carolyn Wade conducts the weekly lessons at the area schools. The D.A.R.E. program, which is jointly taught by Police Department officers and Deputies with the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, is offered during the second semester to all of the sixth graders at the Craig Intermediate School.

D.A.R.E. is a prevention curriculum designed to teach children about drugs and alcohol, the consequences of their use, and the skills necessary to resist the pressure to experiment with their use. D.A.R.E. is more than information; it provides skills and training to aid children in saying "no" to drugs and alcohol. Students learn how to select and develop healthy alternatives to combat stress and fatigue. Although there are other programs that contain similar elements, D.A.R.E. is unique because it is taught by uniformed police officers.

D.A.R.E., which began in 1983 as a joint project of the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles Police Department, is now being taught worldwide. D.A.R.E. lessons focus on four major areas:

D.A.R.E, instructors employ a variety of activities (group discussions, role playing, etc.) to promote the healthy exchange of feelings and ideas to aid in the learning process. An important part of the program's success can be attributed to the police officer selection. Each D.A.R.E. officer is selected on the basis of his or her experience and sincere devotion towards children.

USA Today found that 57% of students in a nationwide study claim to purchase their drugs at school.

In 1993, 14% of 8^th graders reported drinking 5 or more drinks in the last two weeks, while 51% of high school seniors reported drinking in the last 30 days.

If you have any questions or comments about the DARE program, please contact Officer Wade at 970-826-2360 or by email.

Car crashes are the leading cause of permanent injury and death in young drivers. Each year, thousands of teenagers die and hundreds of thousands are injured needlessly.

The School Resource Officer (SRO) program began in 1995. The objective is to foster a positive relationship between students, their families, school staff and the police department by serving as a liaison and a positive role model. This is accomplished through problem solving, counseling, conflict mediation and other mentoring activities. As well as providing law enforcement services when necessary. The SRO serves as the "link" between the community and the school, implementing problem solving strategies with surrounding neighborhood residents and business to create a safe, crime free environment.

The Craig Police Department, with the support of the Moffat County School District, has dedicated two full-time officers to the schools. Activities include: teaching classes and programs on current legal issues, drug and alcohol issues, the law and you and Constitutional law; assisting school staff mediating juvenile disputes, truancy problems and discipline; and, maintaining close working relationships with several other agencies.

Eddie Eagle is a registered program of the N.R.A. and is presented to 3rd and 4th graders in the Moffat County School District. Eddie Eagle focuses on gun safety for younger children at home and in their daily lives. The program stresses the importance of not touching a gun and to tell an adult if a gun is found. Gun Safety is also included in a safety program to younger children, which includes pre-schools. Officers of the department assist in the presentation of the programs.

The program educates and encourages the students of Moffat County High School in seat belt use. The program rewards teens for safety belt use. All officers in the department present awards as students are observed wearing their safety belt. Tony St. John, who at the time was a City Council Member, initiated this program to give teens the incentive to wear safety belts.

Awards are donated by business owners within the community and include such items as free meals, savings bonds, haircuts, lube and oil change, $10.00 gas and others. All students' names that have received an award are placed into a drawing at the end of the school year. A random drawing is held where students receive "grand prizes" such as $100.00 in gas, a set of wheels for a car or a truck, and installed in-dash CD player. In 2007, local businesses donated prizes valued at over $5,000.00.

The program educates the elementary and pre-school students of the community about child safety. Pre-DARE education on alcohol and drugs is conducted. Other courses focus on Stranger Danger Programs as well as Latch Key Kids information. This program is designed to involve students and children of all ages in community wide programs such as Red Ribbon Week and Partners. Students and children review safety guidelines for walking to and from school, use of seat belts in motor vehicles, gun safety, fire safety, and when to use 9.1.1.

In 1998 25% of all arrests documented by the Craig Police Department were of juveniles. Several of these crimes were vandalism, criminal mischief or alcohol/drug related. As this trend of juvenile related crimes continue to increase, it is imperative that the community of Craig come together and identify alternative activities for the youth to participate in that divert them from committing crime and allow the youth to have positive contact with the police and other adults in the community.

In response to the increase in juvenile crime, the Craig Police Department in cooperation with the Craig Youth Baseball Association have teamed together, to make available to youth, more opportunities to participate in alternative activities. Part of the program was designed to renovate the existing batting cage facility, located at the main baseball field in Craig. The renovation included purchasing new netting, frame and resurfacing the cage. The renovated cage allows all youths, within the community, free access to the batting cage during specified hours. The renovation was completed in the summer of 1999. The focus allows youth to meet and associate with volunteer police officers and members of Craig Youth Baseball Association.

The program is designed to promote safer biking in our community. Officers conduct bicycle training in the local elementary schools and pre-schools in the spring. Officers inspect and register bicycles at a "bicycle rodeo" sponsored by a local insurance company during Grand Olde West Days. Officers on patrol reward children riding their bicycles safely and wearing helmets with a coupon for a free ice cream sundae at a local restaurant. Free helmets are given to children whose parents may not be able to afford helmets. These helmets are obtained by grants and donations from many local insurance companies.

For more information about any of these programs, contact Commander Leonard, bleonard@craigpolice.org