Photo: Mendota Heights Police Department
We don’t always get to see the positive things our law enforcement do everyday. Our Minnesota DARE officers give a piece of their hearts to the students they instruct. I want to share with you, over some of my next few posts, some of the letters, essays, and poems I have received from Minnesota officers over the years.
The following poem was written by Willmar DARE Officer and Sgt. Julie Asmus. She read this poem to her students and their DARE graduations.
Officer Asmus was one of our first DARE Officers and recently retired. She continues to serve as one of our DARE training mentors, instructing our new DARE officers.
I Taught Them
How much of what I teach
Will they really remember?
When peer pressure is heavy,
And they’re trying hard not to surrender.
Did I answer their questions,
In an adequate way?
Give information to support them,
In their decisions some day.
We talked about risks
And did skits and role playing.
I’m never taking drugs,
Is what they were saying!
It’s not about just saying no,
But about learning to care,
About themselves and others,
In this world that we share.
As I reflect back,
On our time together,
I know I’ve given them something,
They will use forever.
It’s hard to say goodbye,
But they know I’ll always care.
And I know they’ll make the right choices,
Because I taught them D.A.R.E.
–DARE Officer Julie Asmus
Willmar Police Department