Colonial Regional Police Department
D.A.R.E. Program
"Drug Abuse Resistance Awareness" Program
Pennsylvania Commission On Crime and Delinquency sponsors the Pennsylvania Drug Education and Law Grant Program. This Grant Program provides funding to police departments to pay for the salaries of D.A.R.E. Instructors while they instruct students on the D.A.R.E. Program. Colonial Regional Police Department received $3,470.00 from this grant program for the school year of 2005 – 2006. This grant money is used for officer salary. Instructional supplies, D.A.R.E. t-shirts and products that each student receives upon graduation are paid through departmental funds.
The D.A.R.E. Program focuses on four (4) major areas: Providing accurate information about alcohol and drugs; teaching the students decision making skills; showing children how to resist peer pressure and giving them ideas for alternatives to drug use.
Officer Michael Kovach is the Colonial Regional Police Department D.A.R.E. Officer. Officer Kovach provides instruction to five (5) – 5th grade classes of Lower Nazareth Elementary School, five (5) – 6th grade classes of George Wolf Elementary School in Bath, one (1) – 5th grade class of Sacred Heart School in Bath and two (2) – 6th grade classes in the Lehigh Valley Academy Charter School in Hanover Township. During the school year of 2005-2006, Officer Kovach taught 335 children the D.A.R.E. curriculum.
The D.A.R.E. Program lasts approximately nine (9) weeks. Each class lasts approximately one (1) hour. Officer Kovach spent approximately 135 hours in total, instructing students in the D.A.R.E. Program.
