Towns County
Sheriff's Office
Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Chris Clinton
D.A.R.E./SRO
| Sgt. Darren Jones, D.A.R.E./School Resource Officer |
A Worthy Program
by Captain Pat Williams
The D.A.R.E. program was implemented into the Towns County School system in 1997 by Sheriff Rudy Eller. Initially the D.A.R.E. program was
financed by grants from the state of Georgia for a period of three years. After the grants expired the program was continued and was supported
financially by the Sheriff's Office along with the Towns County School Board.
The D.A.R.E. program gives kids the life skills they need to avoid involvement with drugs, gangs, and violence. The program has been in effect for
many years, but recently “revamped” and updated to include more current statistics and updated information and graphics to make it more
appealing to kids.
The D.A.R.E. program examines the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs such as inhalants and marijuana, and explains what can
happen if you try these drugs and what their long-term effects are. The D.A.R.E. program also addresses the different types of peer pressure and
friendships, and teaches children how to recognize a true friend over someone who may be deceptive and not a true friend.
Before each class, students have an opportunity to submit questions to the “D.A.R.E. BOX,” where they can ask questions about D.A.R.E. material,
law enforcement, or something that’s concerning them. There is a question and answer session before each class, but kids can also submit questions
anonymously. Sometimes Sgt. Jones answers the questions confidentially in a one-on-one format.
The D.A.R.E. program is consistent everywhere in the country. The message of how D.A.R.E. was developed is so important that it needs to be
continually taught in order to have the greatest impact on the kids.
There is a D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony at the end of the program. “It’s real big and real special for the children because they work really hard and
the essay winners have an opportunity to read their reports to the school after which we pass out the awards certificates.” Sgt. Jones said. “The best
thing for me is when I read their reports and see how much they really learned from the D.A.R.E. program.”
In order to graduate from D.A.R.E., the children complete a planner and write a D.A.R.E. essay, where they can write all the things that they have
learned. They also do a pledge at the end of the program to stay drug-free.
Sgt. Jones gets a lot of satisfaction out of the Towns County D.A.R.E. program. “It’s my chance to get out there and enjoy the job and have a positive
interaction with the students.” Sgt. Jones explained, “Having the D.A.R.E. program is a great benefit to allow the children to interact with a Sheriff’
s deputy on a regular basis.”
“I try to give them all the positive interaction I can with me,” said Sgt. Jones, “to let them know it is not all about taking people to jail. It is about
having a positive impact on lives and helping people”.
by Captain Pat Williams
The D.A.R.E. program was implemented into the Towns County School system in 1997 by Sheriff Rudy Eller. Initially the D.A.R.E. program was
financed by grants from the state of Georgia for a period of three years. After the grants expired the program was continued and was supported
financially by the Sheriff's Office along with the Towns County School Board.
The D.A.R.E. program gives kids the life skills they need to avoid involvement with drugs, gangs, and violence. The program has been in effect for
many years, but recently “revamped” and updated to include more current statistics and updated information and graphics to make it more
appealing to kids.
The D.A.R.E. program examines the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs such as inhalants and marijuana, and explains what can
happen if you try these drugs and what their long-term effects are. The D.A.R.E. program also addresses the different types of peer pressure and
friendships, and teaches children how to recognize a true friend over someone who may be deceptive and not a true friend.
Before each class, students have an opportunity to submit questions to the “D.A.R.E. BOX,” where they can ask questions about D.A.R.E. material,
law enforcement, or something that’s concerning them. There is a question and answer session before each class, but kids can also submit questions
anonymously. Sometimes Sgt. Jones answers the questions confidentially in a one-on-one format.
The D.A.R.E. program is consistent everywhere in the country. The message of how D.A.R.E. was developed is so important that it needs to be
continually taught in order to have the greatest impact on the kids.
There is a D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony at the end of the program. “It’s real big and real special for the children because they work really hard and
the essay winners have an opportunity to read their reports to the school after which we pass out the awards certificates.” Sgt. Jones said. “The best
thing for me is when I read their reports and see how much they really learned from the D.A.R.E. program.”
In order to graduate from D.A.R.E., the children complete a planner and write a D.A.R.E. essay, where they can write all the things that they have
learned. They also do a pledge at the end of the program to stay drug-free.
Sgt. Jones gets a lot of satisfaction out of the Towns County D.A.R.E. program. “It’s my chance to get out there and enjoy the job and have a positive
interaction with the students.” Sgt. Jones explained, “Having the D.A.R.E. program is a great benefit to allow the children to interact with a Sheriff’
s deputy on a regular basis.”
“I try to give them all the positive interaction I can with me,” said Sgt. Jones, “to let them know it is not all about taking people to jail. It is about
having a positive impact on lives and helping people”.
| What is D.A.R.E.? Drug, Abuse, Resistance, Education |
