Pittsfield Charter Twp, Michigan

DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION

Welcome to the Pittsfield Township Police Department's D.A.R.E. page. The Pittsfield Township Police Department offers the D.A.R.E. program to three elementary schools. The schools participating in the D.A.R.E. program are Carpenter Elementary School, Eastern Washtenaw Multicultural Academy, and Washtenaw Christian Academy. The goal of the D.A.R.E. program is to prevent or reduce drug abuse and violence among children.

MISSION

D.A.R.E.'s primary mission is to provide children with the information and skills they need to live drug-and-violent-free lives. Additionally, it establishes positive relationships between students, law enforcement, teachers, parents, and other community leaders.

HISTORY

D.A.R.E. was developed in 1983 through a cooperative effort between the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District. The program quickly spread as it was recognized as an effective prevention program. D.A.R.E. is currently being taught in all 50 states, U.S. Department of Defense Schools worldwide, and 54 countries around the world. The program reaches more than 80% of the nation's school districts. There are approximately 50,000 trained D.A.R.E. officers, who have reached over 36 million youths around the world to date. The Pittsfield Township Police Department began teaching the D.A.R.E. program in 1989. Pittsfield Township was the 1st Police Department to offer the D.A.R.E. program in Washtenaw County. The program is currently teaching four 5th grade classes and one 7th grade class, which equals approximately 109 students in the program per year.

CURRICULUM

D.A.R.E. consists of 9 lessons and a culmination ceremony for those who successfully complete the program. The D.A.R.E. lessons focus on:

• Alcohol and drugs
• Teaching students decision-making skills
• Showing students how to resist peer pressure
• Giving students ideas for alternatives to drug use and violence

D.A.R.E. OFFICER

D.A.R.E. utilizes specially trained, uniformed police officers to deliver the curriculum within the schools. To become a D.A.R.E. instructor a police officer must successfully complete and 80-hour training course. An additional benefit of the D.A.R.E. program is the exposure of our youth to uniformed police officers, allowing them to develop a relationship with a police officer in a positive environment. Students learn the police officers are normal individuals who have a sincere interest in their well being. It is our goal to provide our youth with the skills, training, and confidence they will need to resist peer pressure and say "NO" to offers to use drugs.

Meet the Pittsfield Township Police Department's D.A.R.E. Officer. OFFICER MATTHEW RITZLER (pictured above with the Official D.A.R.E. Safety Buddy, Retro Bill) joined the Pittsfield Township Police Department in 2000. He became the department's D.A.R.E. Officer after completing his D.A.R.E. training in 2005. Officer Ritzler can be contacted via phone or email at the following:
(734) 944-4911 ext. 407
or e-mail at ritzlerm@pittsfielddps.org

D.A.R.E. LINKS
www.dare.com
www.retrobill.com