Springdale, SC (Paul Kirby) - Officer Harrelson, School Resource Officer (SRO) for Springdale Elementary School and a member of the Springdale Police Department, recently graduated from D.O.T. School. There she was trained to continue the excellent work of former Springdale Police Chief Kevin Cornett who taught the D.A.R.E. Program at Springdale Elementary for many years.
According to Wikipedia, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is an education program that seeks to prevent the use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior in young people. It is usually presented to school children in their classrooms or in larger spaces in their schools. It was founded in Los Angeles in 1983 as a joint initiative of then LAPD chief Daryl Gates and the Los Angeles Unified School District.
After Officer Harrelson’s graduation, Springdale Police Chief Richbourg said, “As law enforcement officers, we have various duties to ensure the safety and growth of our community. One of the most important is ensuring the safety and education of today’s youth. I believe the D.A.R.E. program is a great tool for us to connect with our community’s youth and prepare them to conquer the challenges they will face growing up.”
Since joining Team Springdale, Officer Harrelson has become well-known for her big smile and her work in the community. Chief Richbourg said regarding her graduation that the entire department and town were very proud of Officer Harrelson’s hard work and dedication to her students and the community.
