Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers leads the ten week program and this week those students will conclude their curriculum with graduation. Chief Lowers says the program is oriented around teaching youth about the dangers of drugs and alcohol but has been modified since its inception in the early '80s.

 

 

According to Chief Lowers, the modified curriculum now also focuses on communication, which deals with saying no to drugs and alcohol. It also has lessons centered around bullying and cyber-bullying.

 

 

For DARE graduation, students will present their DARE projects to the class, which is the final project of the course. Chief Lowers explains those will go up in the hallway of the school for an open house.

 

 

Chief Lowers says he enjoys working with the students each year. This is his second year as the DARE instructor. He feels this is a great way for the police department to get in front of students at an early age and develop a good relationship with them and let them see police as a community service oriented department.