10 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, November 1, 1995 DARE (continued from page 1) elementary education, Ziegler student taught and was a substi- officers pretending to be fifth- graders,” Ziegler said. “After that, DARE is more than simply drug education, he added. tute teacher before going into law my practice class of sixth-graders “We're making a commitment ) | enforcement. at the Ephrata Middle Schoolwas to the community to use all our “I became a police officer be- a breeze.” resources to attack its problems cause I wanted to help people, to DARE won't be a breeze for and help kids build their self- make a difference in someone's Ziegler's students, however. esteem. It's pro-active, a partner- life,” he said. He's looking forward They'll be required to participate ship between the police and the to combining his police skills with in all class activities and complete residents to define and discuss - his college training. “Ages 11 and 12 are a critical time for kids,” he said. “They're too big to be babies any longer, a workbook in order to graduate from the course. His face lit up as he described some of the topics he plans to community problems and enlist all available resources to begin solving them instead .of simply referring people to social agencies but they're notyet teenagers. They over. “Everylessonwillhavesomej and walking away.” must learn that it's okay to say type of special activity as well as ‘no,’ that they aren't ‘chicken’ for other work,” he said. “They’lllearn, DARE is a proven method which refusing drugs and alcohol. They're also very susceptible to some very heavy influence from television shows and movies. Having children of my own has but they'll also have fun.” “This close relationship with the helps officers and the community begin to trust one another and work together, Balavage said. Police in communities with estab- lished DARE programs tend to certainly helped.” ! : sdb see fewer youth problems, an le Designed in 1983 by the Los community is similar improved relationship with the Angeles Police Department and to the old beat cop..” entire community and more ar- i the Los Angeles Unified School James Balavage rests as people become less reluc- . District, DARE teaches young Kindsion Tw ice chit tant to come forward and report Tis people to make the proper choices, ings P- po . suspicious activity to police, he to say ‘no’ to drugs and alcohol : said. under different circumstances Ziegler said he won't simply without losing face. It's taught slide through class either. “As a “The residents must see that u mainly in fifth grades by uni- good teacher have to get to know the police are not only their friends, 5 formed police officers. each student. They'll also get to but also the guys in charge of the Locally, Hanover, Kingston, know me, both as a police officer neighborhood,” Balavage said. M Tunkhannock and Hazleton also and the person behind the uni- “This close relationship with the fz send DARE officers into their schools. Ziegler attended the rigorous DARE training course at the Pat- ton campus of the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown, where he was the only officer from Northeastern Pennsylvania. “In 18 years of law enforce- ment, my DARE training was the finest education I've ever received,” he said. form, rather than just the author- ity figure. I know I must always tell them the truth - they'll see right through anything else. It's a good way to help break down some preconceived notions which many people have about police officers.” Bringing the DARE program to the Back Mountain has been a special goal for Kingston Town- ship police chief James Balavage community is similar to the old beat cop, who knew everyone and had a good official relationship with the people who lived in the area he walked every day. It's unfortunate that not all commu- nities can attain this goal, but the Back Mountain certainly can if it wants to.” ; Ziegler was one of two appli- cants for the DARE officer posi- tion. Balavage said he selected i i THE MIDAS SYSTEM ; i The Compera or § Can help your hearing aid sound h i a. : ; System In addition to learning to effec- and township manager Jeff Box, him on the basis of his education, Ch tively present the 17 classes in who first began to explore it with experience, ability to communi- assertiveness, self-esteem, con- the supervisors two years ago. cate with young people and inter- sidering and facing the conse- “Working with theyoung people est in them. Being a father also quences of one’s actions, seeing is part of our responsibility as helped. through the media’sinfluenceand community police officers,” Balav- “This police department has avoiding drugs, tobacco, violence age said. “It's a natural link to the made a commitment to our com- and gangs, the officers had to community and helps promote a munity,” Balavage said. “Now we teach practice classes, both at positiverelationshipwiththekids. hope it will respond to our efforts, Patton and in a real school. They want a good relationship through parents, teachers, politi- L “I had to teach the section on with us, but need the opportu- . cal leaders, religious groups and k media influences to 30 uniformed nity.” : our business leaders.” ©) © d F A 1 8 i g 'e Leichtman's E i ; : : C remium ) t t Ice Cream | 0 py 39 1/2 gal. | POST PHOTO/GRACE R. DOVE Kingston Township patrolman Frank Ziegler, chief James Balavage and sergeant Michael Moravec introduce the new DARE program’s mascot, “DARE-n” the lion, to the community. DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) will be taught to all fifth-graders in the Dallas school district starting in January. » 4 a DON'T GIVE CHEE | UP ON YOUR OLD HEARING AID GREEN 1 \ Avoid Expensive Repair or Replacement Cost. MO \ ; N : A I N Hearing Instruments, Inc. IQ 4 ROASTERS / Memorial Highway, Tuesday, from 9 to 5, Nov. 7, 1995 For Your Convenience. © pb 4 Walk Ins Welcome Or Call 1-800-228-4222 To Reserve Your Free Service. Before you replace your old aid you owe it to yourself to find out if your current aid is working properly. The Midas System uses new technology to clean your current aid removing wax build up and other debris that many times causes aid malfunction. @) pen V4 o ETS 6 dad. m ~=1 1 P. m . | 4 gCrisper! Clearer! 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