In the mid 80’s, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles School District combined efforts in an attempt to reduce drug and gang influence in their area.  Another reason for the officer in the classroom was to improve the police-community relation. The original curriculum was targeted for 5^th grade.  Officers were chosen to deliver the curriculum in the classrooms with the classroom teachers present.  The officers were subjected to ridged screening to eliminate those officers that would not project a positive image of the Los Angeles Police Department.  A key component of this idea was Los Angeles Chief William Gates. The program was given the acronym of D.A.R.E.

Shortly after the D.A.R.E. program was launched and determined successful, the Illinois State Police sent State Troopers to Los Angeles to be trained in the curriculum of D.A.R.E.  Illinois State Police then established a training division and taught officers from Illinois and other states.  Illinois D.A.R.E. was considered to be the leading edge in training. The idea of a police officer was pursued by then Roxana Police Chief James Loyd with the support of Dr. Jananne Threlkeld, Assistant Superintendent of the Roxana Community School District; the Roxana Police Department D.A.R.E. program was launched.  In 1987, now then Chief Richard Farthing attended D.A.R.E. Officer training class #2 in Springfield Illinois State Police Academy.  The two-week training has often been described as the most demanding training a police officer can receive.

In 1992, Chief Dennis Smith received his D.A.R.E. training at Illinois State Police Academy.  The training helped him become a better police officer, parent, and increased the awareness for the need of community involvement in the schools.

The original curriculum has changed three times since his original training.  The changes came by constant re-evaluation of the course content.  The length of the curriculum has gone from 17 weeks to 10 weeks. With the reduced number of weeks for the grade school curriculum, Chief Smith saw an opportunity to receive the Junior High D.A.R.E. training.  Lt. William Cunningham received his D.A.R.E. training in 2006 and was certified to teach the grade school and Junior High program. 

The Junior High program stopped after the 2009 school year, due to funding issues. 

The D.A.R.E. program is currently being taught at Central and South Roxana Grade Schools to 5^th grade, with a student enrollment of approximately 130 students.  This program is still strong thanks to the generous support of ConocoPhillips and Roxana Landfill

Activities include a dance at the Roxana Park and a family movie night at the Nazarene Community Center.  A big family activity is the annual St. Louis Cardinal D.A.R.E. Night at the ballpark.  This gives families from Illinois and Missouri the opportunity to buy tickets for the ball game at a greatly reduced price.  This activity is coordinated by Officer Doug Scheffer of the Alton Police Department.  D.A.R.E. Graduation day in Roxana has grown each year in an attempt to show the students the support they have through the school district and as well their parents and community.  After the graduation a pizza party is provided to the students free of charge. Not a bad deal.

So you ask how can the Roxana Police Department provide the D.A.R.E. program to the students? Good Question. The Roxana D.A.R.E. program has received fantastic support from local businesses and industries. The D.A.R.E. Conoco-Phillips Wood River Refinery pays for the shirts and other gifts the students receive.

Other supporters of the D.A.R.E. program are:

• Roxana Landfill

• Hit and Run Convenience Stores

• Wood River Wal-Mart

• Roxana Culligan

• Roxana School District

• Village of South Roxana

• Roxana Park and Recreation

• Family of Karl Oller

• Trickey's Towing

In 2003, the Village of Roxana received a 1996 Dodge 9 passenger van from the Madison County Transit Committee. The purpose of the van is to advertise the Roxana Police Department D.A.R.E. program and to create dialogue between the community and the D.A.R.E. Officer. The van has been in local car shows and received an invitation to be shown this past winter at the Edward Jones Dome at the World of Wheels car show.

Companies donating to the van project are:

• Wood River Roberts Ford Body Shop

• Wedge Tire

• Trickey’s Towing

• Reliable Stereo

• Fairview Heights Best Buy

• Banner Fire Equipment

• Petty’s Restaurant

• Ed Roehr Public Safety Equipment

• Pro Graphics

• Pro Exhaust

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