Briefing Room

CSD Gateway

Unit Supervisor:
Harvey Jacques 954-828-5585

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Truancy Interdiction Program Gang Resistance Education and Training	Drug Abuse Resistance Education School Resource Officer Program

TRUANCY INTERDICTION PROGRAM

Purpose of this project is to reduce the number of property crimes and other criminal activities by actively seeking out youth of school age who are truant, and to provide early intervention by getting parents involved through accountability. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has two a full-time Truancy Enforcement Officers, who coordinate and increase the truancy enforcement capability of the patrol force, and effectively target habitual offenders.

Officer Ed Jackson

Truancy Officer

DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION

In January 1991 the Fort Lauderdale Police Department took a new approach to the war on drugs and began attacking the demand for drugs, instead of just the supply. Police Officers began teaching the 17 week D.A.R.E. program at all Elementary Schools located in the City of Fort Lauderdale. The D.A.R.E. program helps build the self esteem of students, and develops the skills they need to live drug free lives. D.A.R.E. lessons focus on four major areas:

1. Providing accurate information about alcohol, and drugs.
2. Teaching students decision making skills, and giving them proven ways to "say no" to drugs.
3. Giving the students ideas for alternatives to drug use.
4. Showing them how to resist peer pressure.

By educating and motivating this generation of young people, we hope to significantly reduce the demand for illegal substances. Parental involvement is a key component in the battle to keep kids off drugs. By reinforcing the D.A.R.E. message at home, parents can help support their child's decision to remain drug free.

Part-time D.A.R.E. Officers:
Officer Clay Barrett
Officer Michael Freely
(954) 828-5585

Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.)

In 2000 The Fort Lauderdale Police Department introduced a new gang prevention program to our city's public schools. The Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) curriculum was originally established a the Middle School level, and was quickly expanded to the Elementary Schools as well.

The G.R.E.A.T. Program is a school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum. The program's primary objective is prevention and is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. G.R.E.A.T. lessons focus on providing life skills to students to help them avoid delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems.

The goal of the program is to prevent youth crime, violence, and gang involvement while developing a positive relationship among law enforcement, families, and our young people to create safer communities.

Currently we have a total of ten certified G.R.E.A.T. instructors. This number inclused all of our seven School Resource Officers (SRO), as well as three part-time G.R.E.A.T. instructors.

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM

School Resource Officers are uniformed police officers assigned to schools for the purpose of promoting positive relationships between students and the law enforcement community. The officers utilize a number of different approaches to accomplish their goal of preventing juvenile delinquency, including:

1. Enabling the students to be associated with a police officer in the student environment rather than that of law enforcement.
2. Giving classroom instruction or counseling to students in law enforcement related topics.
3. Providing a resource to teachers, parents and students for conferences on an individual basis.
4. Assisting students to achieve a clear realization of the consequences of delinquent and criminal behavior.
5. Providing a visible law enforcement officer to deal with any law related situations or topics.

Because School Resource Officers must carry out their police duties in addition to these mentoring responsibilities, the position is very challenging and multi-faceted.

School Resource Officers:

Officer Jeff Alexander 754-322-4700
Sunrise Middle School

Officer Flood Gordon 754-322-0800
Dillard High School

Officer Charles Livingston 754-322-1100
Fort Lauderdale High School

Officer Dennis Nelson 754-323-2100
Stranahan High School

Officer Jon Appel 754-322-2800
Arthur Ashe Middle School

Officer Rob Bolden 754-323-3600
New River Middle School

Officer Jody Thomfohrde 754-322-3200
William Dandy Middle School

Briefing Room