Fair Lawn Police Department ®

  Drug Abuse Resistance Education

D.A.R.E. OFFICER BIOGRAPHIES

The 2006 - 2007 D.A.R.E. program is about to start!!!!!   

The D.A.R.E. curriculum is designed to teach life skills to students in the 5th or 6th grade.  A uniformed police officer teaches one 45 minute block of instruction per class, per week, for 10 weeks.  The lessons focus on:  building resistance techniques to alcohol, drugs, and violence; considering consequences; resisting pressure; ways to say no; effects of the media; stress; alternatives; conflict resolution; anti-violence; improving self-esteem; risk taking; and decision making.  The instruction takes place, by a uniformed police officer, in the classroom during the regular school day. 

This is the 17^th year that D.A.R.E. has been in Fair Lawn.  It began in 1989 when Detective Roger Rysz (now retired) implemented the program to the sixth grade at St. Anne’s School.  The following year, Officers Joseph Cook and William Yirce were trained in the D.A.R.E. program and brought it to the sixth grade in the Fair Lawn Public Schools.     

Since 1991, other Fair Lawn police officers have received their D.A.R.E. certification; Sgt. Derek Bastinck, Det. David Boone, P.O. Glen Callons, Sgt. Brian Metzler, P.O. Gerard Graziano, P.O. James Krizek, P.O. Mark Wyka and P.O. Peter Yuskaitis.  Training to teach the D.A.R.E. program consists of an intensive two-week class, taught by "mentor" officers, who are specially trained D.A.R.E. officers.  A mentor officer must complete additional training and certification to achieve that position.   

In addition to the 6^th grade "core" curriculum, the Borough’s 4th- and 8th-grade students also receive D.A.R.E. instruction.  Students in the 4th-grade receive a five lesson program.  The 4th grade program gives the students an introduction to the D.A.R.E. program and begins to instill positive self esteem and refusal skills. The 8th-grade program consists of  lessons that focus on refusal skills and positive character traits that reinforces what makes someone a good citizen.

Each year, over 500 Fair Lawn students complete the D.A.R.E. program.

Drug and alcohol abuse and violence prevention education doesn't end in the classroom though.  The Fair Lawn D.A.R.E. program hosts special events where the students have a good time, while the lessons they have been taught in the classroom get reinforced by showing the students that it is possible to have fun with your family and friends without the need for drugs, alcohol, or violence.