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D.A.R.E.PROGRAM S.R.O. Program |
Police Explorer ProgramThe Guilford Police Department began it's Police Explorer Program in February of 2005. It is open to Guilford youth between the ages of 14 to 21 who have completed the Eighth Grade. The Police Explorer program is intended for youth who are considering a career in law enforcement. Participants, or Cadets, will train with police officers in the skills and tactics used by police officers. Cadets will leave the program with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively compete for a position as a Law Enforcement Officer.
Project D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a cooperative effort of the CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE and LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS to prevent drug abuse in children and youth.
Traditional drug abuse programs dwell on harmful effects of drugs. The program emphasis of Project D.A.R.E. is to help students recognize and resist the many subtle pressures that influence them to experiment with alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. In addition, program strategies are planned to focus on feelings relating to self-esteem, interpersonal and communication skills, decision making, and positive alternatives to drug abuse behavior. The focus of the program is aimed at the fifth and sixth grades. The reason for this focus is that this is the age group where peer pressure is going to become a large part of the youth's development.
D.A.R.E.'s aim is to equip our youth with the skills to resist peer pressure to experiment with and use harmful drugs and alcohol.
The program content for D.A.R.E. is organized into seventeen 60 minute lessons to be conducted by a POLICE OFFICER and suggested extended activities to be taught by the regular classroom teacher.
The lessons will be conducted by a specially trained police officer who will have successfully completed an eighty hour training course. This course includes: officer - school relationships, development of self-esteem, peer pressure resistance techniques, narcotics recognition, communication skills, child development and classroom evaluations. The State Department of Education is actively involved in the eighty hour instructor training process. Areas of expertise addressed include: classroom management techniques, public speaking, lesson plan outlines, teaching methodology and teacher - parent - school relations.
D.A.R.E. offers variety oriented techniques which are designed to encourage student generated responses to problem solving situations. The classroom teacher also remains in the D.A.R.E. classroom and participates along with the students; this strengthens student teacher relationships.
Project D.A.R.E. has undergone numerous evaluations by skilled researchers with similar results reported in most jurisdictions. The D.A.R.E. students overwhelmingly accepted the D.A.R.E. program and felt it was successful. Principals and teachers reported positive changes in individual students, classes, and schools. Additionally, school personnel reported an increase in positive attitudes towards law enforcement personnel, a reduction in school vandalism, truancy and disciplinary actions, an increase in self-confidence levels, and a more positive attitude toward school.
Project D.A.R.E. began in the Los Angeles school system. It was developed by the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Los Angeles City Board of Education, and the Los Angeles City Police Department. Project D.A.R.E. has now become a nationwide program. Project D.A.R.E. came to Connecticut two years ago where a small pilot program was conducted. Because of the outstanding success of those pilot programs, Statewide Narcotics Task Force, of the Connecticut State Police has instituted the D.A.R.E. Police Officer Training Program for the State of Connecticut. The first training program was done on October 28, 1988, and thirty-three Connecticut police officers successfully completed the eighty hour course.
Instructors:
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Resource web sites for parents
The Guilford Police D.A.R.E. officers want to let parents know about web sites which they may want to refer tothroughout the year. These web sites offer a wealth of information on topics such as child care, education, health and safety issues for parents.
We believe that this site will of interest to parents as well as a useful resource.
Many other state and federal resources are available at the Connecticut PTA's web site.
The School Resource Officer (SRO) program is an integral part of the overall community policing strategy. With a population of approximately 1200 people the Guilford High School is a big part of Guilford's community. The SRO is an asset available to our schools and communities that allows officers to address issues and situations in the lives of our youth in a forum other than the judicial system. The School Resource Officer Program (SRO) and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program are nationally recognized and accepted programs involving the placement of a law enforcement officer within the educational environment. The officer, while at school, is involved in a variety of functions aimed at prevention. Besides being a high profile law enforcement officer, the SRO / DARE officer is a resource for students, parents, teachers, and administration regarding issues related to law. The SRO is also a link to other service agencies within the school district, which can provide preventive strategies and counseling. Officer Scott Gardner, a nine-year veteran of the Guilford Police Department, is currently assigned as the School Resource Officer at Guilford High School. Officer Gardner can be reached at the high school Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM at (203)453-2741 ext. 220 for anyone with questions or concerns. |
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