Golden Valley, MN – A Byron Elementary student was selected as the winner of the 2018 Minnesota D.A.R.E. poster contest. Gianna B. is a 5th grade student participating in the D.A.R.E. program under the direction of the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. Olmsted County D.A.R.E. Officer Jon Strom entered her poster in the statewide program hosted by Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc. Gianna’s poster was selected out of hundreds of posters entered from law enforcement agencies, statewide.
The theme for this year’s contest was “We CARE for our community that is why we have DARE.” In D.A.R.E. we discuss how we can help in our communities; how we can be a good leader in our community; what it means to be caring; and how can taking care of ourselves help our community.
As the 1st Place winner in the contest, Gianna to threw out the opening pitch at the April 29, 2018 Minnesota D.A.R.E./Twins game. All winning posters were displayed at the State Capitol the week of April 23rd, 2018.
(Photos at https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaDare/ )
Here is a list of the other poster winners:
#1 – Gianna B.
Byron Middle School
DARE Officer Jon Strom
Olmsted Co. Sheriff’s Office
#2 – Calista Y.
Dover-Eyota Elem. School
DARE Officer Casey McFarland
Olmsted Co. Sheriff’s Office
#3 – Catelyn B.
Kasson Mantorville Elem. School
DARE Officer Jesse Kasel
Kasson PD
#4 – Ridley K.
Bemijdi Middle School
DARE Officer Jon Hunt
Bemidji PD
#5 – Ivy K
Dover-Eyota Elem. School
DARE Officer Casey McFarland
Olmsted Co. Sheriff’s Office
#6 – Katrina S.
Chatfield Elem.
DARE Officer Kevin Landorf
Chatfield PD
#7 – Addison E.
Pleasantview Elem. – Sauk Rapids
DARE Officer Dan Dalton
Benton Co. Sheriff’s Office
#8 – Breanna S.
Hayfield Elementary
DARE Officer Dave Skadson
Dodge Co. Sheriff’s Office
#9 – Moses S.
Bemidji Middle School
DARE Officer Jon Hunt
Bemidji PD
#10 – Clara P.
Byron Middle School
DARE Officer Jon Strom
Olmsted PD
#11 – Paisley V.
Immanuel Lutheran
DARE Officer Pat Geiken
McLeod Co. Sheriff’s Office
#12 – Ava M.
Visitation
DARE Officer Mario Reyes
Mendota Heights PD
#13 – Brynn A.
Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion
DARE Officer Nichole Korth
New Hope PD
#14 – Jacquelyn B.
Chadfield Elementary
DARE Officer Kevin Landorf
Chadfield PD
#15 – Celine T.
SACS
DARE Officer Cortnie Anderson
Shakopee PD
#16 – Will S.
Kasson-Mantorville
DARE Officer Jesse Kasel
Kasson PD
#17 – Olivia W.
Triton
DARE Officer Matt Stradtmann
Dodge Co. Sheriff’s Office
#18 – Denisha P.
Prairie Seeds Academy
DARE Officer Brandy Gelle
Brooklyn Park PD
#19 – Audriana Marie P.
Pinewood Elementary – Monticello
DARE Officer Chad Torkelson
Wright Co. Sheriff’s Office
#20 – Savannah M.
Oneka – Hugo
DARE Officer Kelly Olsen
Washington Co. Sheriff’s Office
D.A.R.E. has become so much more than just a drug and violence prevention organization. Our D.A.R.E. officers are telling us that they work with children who need assistance in many additional areas. Law Enforcement are exposed to children in traumatic situations everyday—homelessness, mental health issues, domestic violence, abuse, neglect, lack of food/nutrition, and the list goes on.
The D.A.R.E. program is the largest community policing program in Minnesota. Annually we instruct between 60,000 – 70,000 Minnesota students. The key to the D.A.R.E. program is the development of a relationship between law enforcement and children (this allows for a positive first exposure). For community policing to work; there must be a trust and confidence building initiative. It improves public safety by eliciting the input of stakeholders and responds to a neighborhood’s unique cultural and socio-economic dynamics; it is community-centered and human-centered programming.
For more information contact Kathi Ackerman at Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc. (952-484-2195).
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