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 Police 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 I was given the opportunity to receive my D.A.R.E. training at the Illinois State Police Academy. The training helped me be a better police officer and parent and increased my awareness for the need of community involvement in the schools.

The original curriculum has been changed 3 times since my 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, I saw this as an opportunity to receive the Junior High D.A.R.E. training. With the support of Chief Farthing and the Roxana School District in June of 2002 at the Missouri Highway Patrol training facility in Jefferson City Missouri. The training was received in Missouri due to the Illinois State Police lost funding and the D.A.R.E. training facility was discontinued. The Junior High curriculum consists of 10 lessons. At the 8^th Grade recognition ceremony the students are presented with D.A.R.E. certificates of completion.

The D.A.R.E. program is currently being taught at Central and South Roxana Grade Schools, 5^th grade, with a student enrollment of approximately 130 students. The Junior High program is in its second year and the continued support of Junior High Principal Montgomery and teachers.

Currently there is a joint effort with Hartford Police Department, D.A.R.E. Officer Lt. John Grigg and Wood River Police Department D.A.R.E. Officer Mark Carnes to provide activities for current D.A.R.E. students. Activities include a dance at the Roxana Park and a swim party at the Wood River Aquatic 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 Wood River Officer Carnes. 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

• Gemini Industries

• Flowers Distributors

• Roxana Culligan

• Roxana School District

• Village of South Roxana

• Roxana Park and Recreation

• Family of Karl Oller

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