D.A.R.E. program returning to Oswego City schools

OSWEGO, N.Y. — Mayor Billy Barlow announced this week that the D.A.R.E program will be returning back to Oswego City Schools. The program is aimed at teaching students at a young age the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. The Mayor addressed the public on Wednesday about the implementation of the program.

Educating children is the first step in protecting the community from illegal drugs said, Mayor Barlow.

The program was slowly faded out of schools due to dwindling classroom time and the need for more officers on the road.

“What we are doing when we are committing to a D.A.R.E program is taking an officer off the street, and putting him into the schools. I don’t know if the data bears out any great benefit we have derived,” Oswego County Undersheriff Gene Sullivan said.

Despite the program being used before, issues with illegal drug use like heroin have increased Undersheriff Sullivan said.

Officers have still taken the steps of becoming D.A.R.E. certified despite the program pulling officers away from patrolling the streets.

Becoming a D.A.R.E. officer requires additional training on their own time. Officer Thomas Grover of the Oswego City Police department recently completed the D.A.R.E. instructor course.

The program is set to start in the 2016-2017 school year.