DARE Program

General Information

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) program began in Los Angeles in 1983. D.A.R.E. is a highly acclaimed program that provides children the skills and information they need to avoid the dangerous pitfalls associated with drugs, gangs, and violence. Furthermore, D.A.R.E. is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children how to resist peer pressure in relation to drugs etc. Since 1983, millions of school aged children around the world have benefited from this program.

Syracuse Police Department has taught the D.A.R.E. program in Syracuse City schools for over 30 years. Currently, D.A.R.E. is being taught at six elementary and two junior high schools. Over the years, D.A.R.E. has evolved into much more than a prevention program. D.A.R.E. incorporates self-empowerment and gives students instruction on how they get to make the choices that impact their lives going forward. These lessons and interactions have proven to be of value in building relationships within our community.

Officer Josh Pollard is assigned as Syracuse Police Department’s D.A.R.E. Officer. Officer Penrod also organizes our National Night Out Against Crime event and provides tours of our Department.

For more information on our D.A.R.E. program, please contact Officer Josh Pollard at 801-614-9613.