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KIMBALL TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — She's retired, but former St. Clair County Sheriff Department DARE officer Cyndy King still feels it's important to talk to kids about staying safe.
King talked to kids recently at G. Lynn Campbell Library, in Kimball Township, about the dangers of strangers.
King had been with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program for 14 years. She retired in spring. During her 23 years at the sheriff department she also was on the drug task force and was a medical examiner special investigator.
"I would have normally talked to children about strangers in elementary schools during a separate presentation from the DARE program, which is specific to drugs," King told the Times Herald of Port Huron ( http://bwne.ws/1u7hk7a ). "It's important to talk to kids to make them aware of strangers."
King wants to teach elementary school kids to be cautious about talking to strangers and accepting gifts from strangers.
"I think it's important to help kids, and even parents, with all safety issues," she said. "From talking about strangers to drug prevention."
The St. Clair County Sheriff Department eliminated its DARE program at the end of March. The program cost about $96,000 a year to run and was cut due to lack of funding.
St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon said it was good to hear that King wants to continue to give to her community.
"(King) had an incredible career with the sheriff's office," Donnellon said. "Even in her retirement she wants to continue to give back and educate kids."
St. Clair County Sheriff Department had provided DARE programming since 1989. Last year it provided services to 11 area high schools.
King said she was really disappointed when the DARE program was cut.
"I was upset because I truly believe in the program," King said. "I would not be able to continue to teach the DARE program on my own because it has to be taught by a uniformed police officer, but I would be willing to still give presentations. I really feel strongly about the safety of kids."
King said she thinks it's a worthwhile cause to talk at local libraries, or to other organizations, about kids' safety and drug prevention.
"I expect to do more after-school programs like this," she said. "But it's not only for children. We need to educate adults about the addictiveness of prescription pills. Some people don't realize how addictive some prescriptions can be, and that can lead to trying illegal substances to supplement when the prescription runs out."
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Information from: Times Herald, http://www.thetimesherald.com
This is an AP Member Exchange shared by the Times Herald (Port Huron).
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