22 Officers Graduate from State D.A.R.E. Course

Nashville, Tennessee — A new group of police officers and sheriff’s deputies graduate Friday December 8 th from D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) training conducted by the Tennessee Department of Safety.

The culmination exercise is scheduled for 11:00am Friday December 8 at Sheraton Music City Hotel, Two Rivers Room.

Tennessee began its 37 th D.A.R.E. Officer Training on November 25 th at the Sheraton Music City Hotel. The training is conducted by the Highway Patrol’s internationally recognized D.A.R.E. unit. The instructors teach a two-week course that certifies law enforcement officers in the Elementary and Middle School D.A.R.E. curricula.

The 22 officers who completed the course represent 20 Tennessee law enforcement agencies, one from Chandler , Arizona and the Caribbean island of St. Maarten , Netherland Antilles. Upon completion of the training, the officers are also trained to assume duties as School Resource Officers (SRO’s) in their communities.

“The D.A.R.E. program is important in the fight against drug use by young people,” said THP Commander Colonel Mike Walker. “Its success in keeping children and teens away from drugs is recognized across the United States , and around the world.”

D.A.R.E. is in its 24 th year and is taught in all 50 states plus some 54 foreign countries. Since 1990, the THP has conducted dozens of D.A.R.E. Training Seminars in Nashville . The classes have prepared more than a thousand officers to work with young people on drug education. D.A.R.E. focuses on responsibility and resistance to peer pressure. It targets communication and refusal skills, decision-making skills and awareness about drugs and health. D.A.R.E. programs across Tennessee reach approximately 80% of all school systems, and an estimated 50-thousand children each year.

“D.A.R.E.’s success proves that early intervention helps keep kids away from drugs,” said THP Lieutenant Leonard Moudy, Tennessee ’s D.A.R.E. coordinator. He adds “the curriculum is demanding and comprehensive. Lt. Moudy will attend the culmination exercise along with Lt. Col Strawther and Captain Don Nicholson.

The Tennessee Department of Safety ( www.tennessee.gov/safety ) is responsible for ensuring the safety and general welfare of the traveling public. The department’s general areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education and motorist services including the issuance of driver licenses. The department and its highly trained staff of Troopers are responsible for safety on more than 15,000 miles of state and federal highways.

D.A.R.E. ROSTER

37th D.A.R.E. OFFICER TRAINING SEMINAR

November 26 - December 8, 2006

• Brandon Beard, Giles County Sheriff’s Department
• Emma Bribiescas, Chandler Police Department, Arizona
• Jason Dark, Columbia Police Department
• Kenneth Errington, Knox County Sheriff’s Department
• Kyle Evans, Murfreesboro Police Department
• Allen Floyd, Williamson County Sheriff’s Department
• Randall Fowler, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
• Chad Fussell, Dickson Police Department
• Randall Gabrel, Englewood Police Department
• Timothy Hearn, Dekalb County Sheriff’s Department
• Troy Hull, Scott County Sheriff’s Department
• James Kiger, Williamson County Sheriff’s Department
• John McLeod, Overton County Sheriff’s Department
• Dientje Muller, St. Maarten Police Korps, Netherland Antilles
• Christie Odenwald, White House Police Department
• Ronald Patrick, Bradley County Sheriff’s Department
• Larry Qualls, Crossville Police Department
• Kenny Ridings, Loudon Police Department
• Sheree Robertson, Laverne Police Department
• Mark Strange, Gatlinburg Police Department
• Mark Sweitzer, Bradley County Sheriff’s Department
• Thomas Texter, Houston County Sheriff’s Department
• Larry Williams, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department