The Paulsboro Police Department has realized and incorporated a D.A.R.E. program among the services we provide since 1991.   It is our intent to maintain this program.  We currently have multiple D.A.R.E. certified/qualified officers to commit to this task.

 The D.A.R.E. Program
D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) program was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles and has proven so successful that it is now being implemented in nearly 80 % of our nations school districts and more than 54 countries around the world. D.A.R.E. is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten through the 12th grade how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence free lives. The D.A.R.E. program is designed to be taught by police officers whose training and experience gave then the background needed to answer the sophisticated questions often posed by young students about crime and drugs. Prior to entering the D.A.R.E. program, officers undergo 80 hours of special training in are as such as child development, classroom management, teaching techniques, and communications skills.

D.A.R.E. is Community Policing
D.A.R.E. is universally viewed as an internationally recognized model of community policing.
D.A.R.E. "humanizes" the police officer in that young people can begin to relate to officers as people.
D.A.R.E. permits students to see officers in a helping role, not just an enforcement role.
D.A.R.E. opens lines of communication between law enforcement and youth.
D.A.R.E. Officers can serve as conduits to provide information beyond drug-related topics.
D.A.R.E. opens dialogue between the school, police, and parents to deal with other issues.

D.A.R.E. in the Paulsboro School System 
The D.A.R.E. program was introduced to the Paulsboro School System by Detective Sergent Chris Wachter, then Ptlm. Wachter in (year). He completed training provided at the New Jersey State Police training facility located in Sea Girt New Jersey and initiated the program beginning with grade(s) ** through**. Since that time, the Paulsboro Police Department has maintained the program, which is provided to grades kindergarten through 6th at Billingsport and Loudenslagger Schools. The 6th grade program concludes after 17 lessons at which time a D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony takes place at Loudenslagger School. Parents, teachers, police officers, community leaders, as well as the students celebrate this graduation. As part of the graduation ceremony, students are rewarded for their participation in essay and poster contests. The winning essay and poster contestants receive prizes for their accomplishments. The winning poster has been re-produced and placed on a billboard located on Delaware Street near the intersection of I-295.

Currently the Paulsboro D.A.R.E. program is presented by:
Sgt. Donald Grey is the DARE Instructor/Coordinator Sgt. Chris Gilcrest Instructor Ptlm. Ken D. Ridinger, Instructor
It is with great pride that we serve our youth today bringing about a better tomorrow.
			Links Dare international: WEB SITE