Sheriff Pohlmann and Maj. Clark tell D.A.R.E. program graduates they must make the right choices in life and use the tools they have been given

Congratulating students receiving their D.A.R.E. graduation certificates were Sheriff James Pohlmann, Maj. Chad Clark, Capt. Ronnie Martin, Lt. Richard Jackson and Lt. Robert Broadhead.	Tammy Whitney was among relatives taking video and photos of the graduates as they stood and performed the D.A.R.E. theme song. Among them was her nephew Ethan Whitney.
Runner-ups in the D.A.R.E. essays were, from left, Summah Salem, Dante’ Landry, Le’Niece Fortenberry and Yobely Ramirez and with them in back are D.A.R.E. instructor Sgt. Darrin Miller, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Maj. Chad Clark, Lt. Richard Jackson and Lt. Lisa Jackson, who heads the D.A.R.E. program.	Winners of the D.A.R.E. essay contest at Chalmette Elementary were, from left, Christiana Gaines, Dakota Sievers, Falin Burke and Patriot Coleman and with them in back row are D.A.R.E. instructor Sgt. Darrin Miller, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Maj. Chad Clark, Lt. Richard Jackson and Lt. Lisa Jackson, who heads the D.A.R.E. program.

The Sheriff’s Office honored some 90 fifth-graders at Chalmette Elementary school on April 30 who completed a 12-week program in Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., taught by instructors from the Sheriff’s Office – a program aimed at trying to keep kids from using drugs including tobacco and alcohol or taking part in violence or bullying others.

Sheriff James Pohlmann told children they must concentrate on making the right choices to have productive lives, including listening to their parents and teachers and deciding who they should and shouldn’t associate with.

And he praised parents for turning out for the graduation ceremony and encouraged to continue staying focused on their children, including talking often with them and looking for warning signs to help prevent drug use or be alerted to them actually using drugs.

If necessary, drug test kits are available at pharmacies to test young people, the sheriff told parents. If there is a problem it is important to rescue them before they become involved in the criminal justice system and end up in prison.

Maj. Chad Clark, commander of the Special Investigations Division including the Narcotics Unit, said it takes the kind of education effort given by Sheriff’s Office drug resistance instructors at parish schools to affect the drug problem in America and solid law enforcement to stop drug dealers.

“We can’t arrest ourselves out of this problem,’’ Clark said, noting there are more than 100,000 deaths in America each year from drug-related causes, including some in St. Bernard Parish. The resurgence of the drug heroin is concerning law enforcement and health care officials nationwide.

But Clark said overdose deaths have been going down in the parish because of a combination of factors including law enforcement diligence.

Several hundred 5th-grade students graduate each semester from the D.A.R.E. program given by St. Bernard sheriff’s officers Lt. Lisa Jackson, commander of the program, and Sgt. Darrin Miller. The D.A.R.E. program, held in both public and private schools, was re-established in 2009, four years after Hurricane Katrina.

The last graduation of the Spring semester will be held May 6 at Lacoste Elementary in Chalmette.

“Learn the warning signs of drug use,’’ in young people, Sheriff Pohlmann said to parents, including:

– Loss of interest in things they used to do such as sports, dance or reading.

– Hanging around with new groups of friends unknown to parents.

– Sudden attitude or mood swings.

– Sudden problems connected with school and academics.

Talk regularly with your children and be familiar with their friends, the sheriff said.

If parents see signs of possible problems, don’t be hesitant to ask what is happening.

Maj. Clark told children they have received the tools they need to begin making right choices. He also said parents can call the SID Division at 271-DOPE (3673) to make an appointment if they want to discuss any particular problem involving their children and drugs.

Taking part in the D.A.R.E. graduation at Chalmette Elementary from the Sheriff’s Office were Sheriff Pohlmann, Maj. Clark, Lt. Lisa Jackson, Sgt.Darrin Miller, Capt. Ronnie Martin, Lt. Richard Jackson and Lt. Robert Broadhead.