Pubdate: Thu, 23 Feb 2012
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Prince George Citizen
Contact:  http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350
Page: 17
Author: Frank Peebles

RCMP CONSTABLE RALLIES 5,000 AGAINST DRUGS

A couple of Harwin elementary school classes totaled 29 students, but 
RCMP Const. Debra Medcke turned them into 5,000.

It was this pair of classes that took Medcke past the 5,000-student 
threshold in her career as a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instructor.

The Prince George RCMP officer has been teaching young school kids 
about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse for the past seven years. 
Each of those years has taken her to 24 schools and about 700 
students, always Grade 5.

Each class gets 12 hours of instruction from Medcke. According to the 
RCMP's calculations, she is has almost reached 1,800 hours of DARE 
time and the graduation at Harwin put her past the mark of 5,000 kids 
who have completed the program.

"It's my passion," said Medcke, a 34-year veteran of the RCMP. She 
considers her time instructing DARE "as the most enjoyable part of my 
experience as a police officer... I enjoy the program. Children need 
the tools to make healthy decisions - DARE provides those tools."

As part of her DARE duties, Medcke has read an essay from nearly all 
of her students. One essay, she recalls, was written with symbols 
instead of letters by a student that was not able to speak. Many 
essays offered personal experiences and almost all generated emotion.

Supt. Eric Stubbs, commander of the Prince George RCMP detachment, 
said "DARE is an important part of our drug prevention strategy. To 
have a member with Const. Medcke's dedication and passion for the 
program is exemplary. The impact that she's had on the lives of 
thousands of children through the DARE program is immeasurable. I 
congratulate Const. Medcke's milestone of teaching more than 5,000 
students in Prince George."

"Const. Medcke will be recognized for her commitment," said Staff 
Sgt. Anthony Choy, in charge of the B.C. RCMP's Drugs & Organized 
Crime Awareness Section. "DARE officers are the most important part 
of the program and Const. Medcke's commitment to teaching her 
students over the past seven years is commendable."

DARE To Know Drugs

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education initiative is a comprehensive 
drug education and prevention program designed to equip school 
children with the skills to recognize and resist social pressures to 
experiment with tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

DARE seeks to establish positive relationships between law 
enforcement officers, children, teachers, parents and other community 
members. Students learn a four-step decision making model that 
emphasizes healthy choices and a take charge attitude.

For more information about the DARE program, visit the RCMP Drug and 
Organized Crime Awareness Section at www.rcmpda.com . In Prince 
George, contact Prince George RCMP Community Policing at (250)561-3366.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart