12/10/07 - Port Chester Police Chief Joseph Krzeminski reinstates DARE Program at all Port Chester's public and private schools.

President George W. Bush delivers a statement on the recent
findings on teen drug use, Dec. 11, 2007. The President said,
"Today we celebrate progress against substance abuse." MORE

Port Chester Police Officer Melissa Acocella Goes Back To Elementary School.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education has been missing from the Port Chester Schools for about six years. Port Chester was the first Police Department to offer DARE, but cancelled to program, because of financial constraints.

The Port Chester Police Department is reinstating the DARE program about two weeks ago. The once a week program and it will be led by Port Chester Police Officer Officer Melissa Acocella. She will teach Port Chester Sixth graders about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Officer Acocella is a former kindergarten teacher.

The program teaches about the dangers of smoking and using drugs, as well as, how to avoid peer pressure. The program also teaches children to avoid gangs and violence.

However, DARE replaces one social studies class per week in the troubled and struggling Port Chester School system. Recently, New York State had to make an emergency 1 Million dollar allocation, because of Port Chester's poor educational performance.

There is considerable marijuana, cocaine and other drug use among the youth in the village.

Perhaps, the drug awareness training is worth the loss of the social studies classes in the troubled Port Chester School system.

Port Chester Police Chief Krzeminski hopes to make DARE an ongoing Police Department Program.

Related Link:

D.A.R.E.

The Official site for the national DARE program. The DARE program gives kids the life skills they need to avoid involvement with drugs, gangs, and violence.

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