D.A.R.E.

D.A.R.E. began in 1983 with the partnership between the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District. These two groups joined forces to build a new drug resistance education program for elementary school students as a way to help battle the use and abuse of illicit drugs. This new plan had LAPD officers teaching the D.A.R.E. curriculum and allowed the students to become familiar with the officers. After the success in the elementary schools, in 1984, D.A.R.E. created and implemented a middle-school curriculum and then introduced a high school curriculum in 1989. Since that time D.A.R.E. has been implemented into schools throughout the United States. 

This is an amazing program that helps students learn good decision-making skills and feel empowered to respect themselves and lead lives free from violence, substance use, and other dangerous behaviors. While some schools have had the opportunity to participate in this program, not all schools in Linn County were able to be involved. Sheriff Melte has worked hard to bring the D.A.R.E. program to all remaining schools in Linn County. 

In September 2024, Sheriff Melte attended the D.A.R.E. Academy in Jefferson City, MO where she graduated alongside other law enforcement officers from Missouri and Illinois. This two-week program provides officers with a wealth of information and allows them to learn and teach the D.A.R.E. curriculum to local students prior to earning their designation as a D.A.R.E. Instructor. It is not an easy task to undertake, and it takes a lot of time and dedication to complete the criteria set forth for graduation from the D.A.R.E. Academy. 

 

Since her graduation, Sheriff Melte has already worked with the Linn County schools to start the D.A.R.E. program moving forward. She is working with the Bucklin R-II School District, Linn County R-I School District, Marceline R-V School District and Meadville R-IV School District. She has already started D.A.R.E. classes in some schools and will begin classes with the remaining schools soon. 

If you have any questions regarding the D.A.R.E. program or if you would like to help the program, please feel free to reach out to Sheriff Melte or contact our office.