First South County DARE Graduation in South County in Half Decade

Goleta - October 9th, 2008

Dozens of 5th & 6th grade students will today become the first class in five years to graduate from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department’s D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program in South County.

The students at Brandon School are just 75 of more than 800 students scheduled to take part in the D.A.R.E. program at 12 schools in South County this year.

The 8-week course provides children with the information and skills they need to live drug-and-violence-free lives.

"DARE is an important program that is part of our overall blended strategy of suppression, intervention and prevention,” said Sheriff Brown who will attend today’s graduation. “It's an element of prevention in our efforts to suppress illegal drug use and gang activity. The program also has tremendous value by bringing law enforcement and young people together in a positive setting while developing a relationship that has long term benefits for both the young people and the deputies.”

Last year Sheriff Bill Brown reinstated the program in the Santa Ynez Valley and Los Alamos after a multi-year hiatus. Classes resumed in Orcutt and the South County this year.

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