The Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers have started teaching drug abuse education classes to 5th grade students in Oconee County. Deputies were certified over the summer by attending training in Columbia conducted by The Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
D.A.R.E. is the largest and most comprehensive K-12 education program in the world taught in thousands of schools in America. The curriculum teaches students good decision-making skills to help them lead safe and healthy lives, and cope with drug abuse and the barrage of other high-risk circumstances they face each day.
School Resource Officers are currently teaching the ten-week program at Blue Ridge Elementary, Northside Elementary, Orchard Park Elementary, Westminster Elementary, James M. Brown Elementary, and Tamassee-Salem Elementary during this school year.
Sheriff Crenshaw will continue to evaluate the program and work with the school district to possibly expand this program to other grade levels and schools.
Sheriff Crenshaw believes “Drug education and prevention is a vital part of combatting illegal drugs. We will continue with our enforcement efforts in arresting drug dealers as well as helping those that seek help with addiction find treatment. In addition to teaching our students to make good decisions in their life, our school resource officers strive to build better relationships with our youth. We appreciate our partnership with the School District of Oconee County in working with us to bring this program to our students.”