HCSO Hosts Inaugural D.A.R.E. Graduation At Normal Park Museum Magnet School

Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett, School Resource Deputy and DARE Instructor Ian Morrow, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Deputy Unit, in conjunction with the administration of the Normal Park Museum Magnet School, hosted a graduation ceremony on Friday for 5^th grade students who recently completed the school’s inaugural D.A.R.E. Program.

During the inaugural event, 101 fifth graders graduated from the D.A.R.E. Program and by the conclusion of this school year, approximately 1,000 students will have graduated the program county-wide since it was re-instituted in our schools in 2022.

"I am thrilled to announce the expansion of the D.A.R.E. Program to Normal Park Museum Magnet School, making it now one of five schools in our county offering this valuable program since its re-institution by my office in 2022. My administration recognizes the significant impact of the D.A.R.E. Program, not only in combating drug addiction among youth, but also in instilling essential life lessons and values. Given the alarming rise in overdoses and overdose-related deaths across our state and nation, as well as the increase in juvenile violence, there has never been a more crucial time to teach and expand the D.A.R.E. Program in Hamilton County. We must equip our young people with the tools they need to understand the dangers of both illegal and prescription drug abuse, while empowering them to resist peer pressure by promoting respect, civility, and positive behavior,” said Sheriff Garrett.

In order to be a DARE Instructor, potential candidates are vetted by D.A.R.E. mentors responsible for training new law enforcement personnel. The candidate must also be a POST-certified, uniformed law enforcement deputy with at least two or more years of service and must successfully complete a rigorous 80-hour training course conducted by mentors with a significant number of years of classroom experience, as well as university-level educators from colleges of education. This coursework does not include the many additional hours of study and after-hours work required to test for the certification.

“I am extremely proud of School Resource Deputy and DARE Instructor, Ian Morrow, for his hard work and dedication to the safety and education of the students at Normal Park,” Sheriff Garrett further noted.

The HCSO thanked the administration and staff at Normal Park Museum Magnet School as well as the Hamilton County Department of Education for their support in making this program possible for students. The HCSO also thanked Hamilton County District 6 School Board Member Ben Connor and Hamilton County Department of Education Chief Operations Officer, Robert Sharpe for participating in the graduation.