Police Officer Jamie Ottwell is the Overland DARE Officer. Officer Ottwell has been serving with the Overland Police Department since 2011. Officer Ottwell has received special 80 hour training through the Missouri Police Chiefs Association relative to the DARE Program. She also volunteers with youth as a Police Explorer Adviser and runs the Police Department's Safety Town.
The D.A.R.E. programs runs in four elementary schools (Buder, Marion, Iveland, and Wyland). Grades K, 3rd, and 5th grade participate in the program (sometimes other grades are provided lessons depending on time and if a teacher requests a classroom visit). Each school has 4 classrooms in each grade for a total of 48 classrooms.
Each Kindergarten class runs for 4 weeks. Lessons include:
- What's an emergency and how to call 9-1-1
- Poisons in the house
- Stranger Danger
- How to be safe around medications
- Bullying
- Signs and how to be safe in your community
- Feelings
- What to do when you are mad or upset
Each 3rd grade class runs for 4 (depending on time, sometimes 5) weeks. Lessons include:
- Stranger Danger (Being aware of situations)
- Prescription Drugs
- Bullying
- How to be a good citizen
- Saying No to drug offers
Each 5th grade class runs for 11 weeks. Lessons include:
- Peer pressure
- Facts about alcohol and tobacco
- Resistance strategies
- Bullying
- Stress
- Communication skills
- Nonverbal communication
- Risks and consequences
- Effective listening skills
- Helping others and getting help
- Drugs
At the end of the 11 weeks, all 5th grade classes within each school, compete in a DARE essay writing contest. The Grand Prize Winner (one in each school) wins the $100.00 VISA Gift Certificate and I take them shopping (with a parent/guardian) at a store of their choice.
OPD works within 48 different classrooms each school year, with approximately 304 classes being provided.