D.A.R.E.

D.A.R.E. Teaches kids how to recognize and resist the direct and subtle pressures that influence them to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs.  And since, between 70% and 90% of all crime is drug related, it is absolutely vital that we reach the children of America before it is too late.

The D.A.R.E. Program is usually introduced to children in the 5th or 6th grade.  A specially trained officer comes into your school and teaches the children.

The D.A.R.E. program was first started in Irvington in the fall of 1993. The program was taught in the Dows Lane Elementary School, Immaculate Conception School and in the Abbott School District. Currently, the DARE Program is taught to all 5th grade students in the community.  This year DARE Officers, Michael Toolan and Erik Seman presently teach at the Main Street School and the John Cardinal O'Connor School. Approximately 200 students will participate in this years program.

D.A.R.E.
Is Community Policing

D.A.R.E.
Is universally viewed as an internationally recognized model of community policing. The United States Department of Justice has 
identified how D.A.R.E. benefits local communities:

D.A.R.E.
"humanizes" the police: that is, 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

The bottom line is D.A.R.E. combines the best research and science with the world's most effective delivery system

Specially Trained Cops Assigned D.A.R.E. Classroom "Beats"

The D.A.R.E. Curriculum is designed to be taught by police officers 

whose training and experience gave them the background needed to 
answer the sophisticated questions often posed by young students 
about drugs and crime. Prior to entering the D.A.R.E. Program, 
officers undergo 80 hours of special training in areas such as child 
development, classroom management, teaching techniques, and 
communication skills. 40 hours of additional training are provided to 
D.A.R.E. Instructors to prepare them to teach the high school 
curriculum.


Contact Detective Toolan by clicking here!!!

Click the link below for an interesting D.A.R.E. video from Ramsey PD: RAMSEY PD D.A.R.E. VIDEO

Special thanks to the Irvington Education Foundation who once again sponsored the program this year with their generous Grant.