By: Ashley Source
Hoping to instill such qualities as responsibility, respect, fairness, and citizenship, these
officers have designed and implemented several programs for local kids.
For officers Sean Schlachter and Jeremy Henry, a day on the job can be spent with little guys, not bad guys. As crime prevention officers and D.A.R.E. instructors, Officers Schlachter and Henry lead awareness and character programs aimed at local students.
“These students are our future leaders,” Officer Henry said. “They will become city council members, business owners and medical professionals.”
Hoping to instill such qualities as responsibility, respect, fairness, and citizenship, these officers have designed and implemented several programs for local kids at Owensboro Public Schools and Owensboro Catholic Schools.
“If they have these characteristics, it will mold them into a successful person,” Officer Schlachter said.
Brett Conder, 8, is a student as Owensboro Catholic K-3 campus. He has been in OPD’s Officer Friendly program since kindergarten and has been impacted by these two OPD officers.
“They teach us how to be safe and healthy,” Brett said. “I’m trying to be a role model and help others.”
Brett remembers the lessons he learned in the Officer Friendly program, but more than that, he remembers time spent with the officers as fun.
“It means something really special to me,” Brett said. “They gave up their time to help teach us.”
It is responses like these that make these awareness programs worth it for Owensboro Police Department.
According to Michael Hathaway, Public Information Officer, no taxpayer money or departmental funds go to these programs. The department relies solely on the D.A.R.E. Golf Scramble to fund all of these youth programs.
But Hathaway contends that these are some of the most important programs the department can provide.
“We are building character, but also allowing kids to get to know law enforcement in a good way,” Hathaway said.
Character Counts
OPD implemented this program last year for the first time, highlighting six pillars—responsibility, trustworthiness, respect, fairness, caring and citizenship. The program stresses interactive activities like role playing to help teach lessons based on these six pillars.
D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
A police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teach children in 5th and 7th grade how to make better decisions, resist peer pressure and live productive, drug- and violence-free lives.
Camp Kops (Kids Obtaining Positive Structure)
OPD officers host a camp for 25 – 35 kids from 4th to 7th grade interested in law enforcement. Typically, these students come from an underprivileged background and get to spend a few days with local police officers focusing on character and leadership.
Explorer Post 766
A police-training program, where students volunteer their time to train in real life situations that local police officers face. This program gives them a first hand opportunity to see if becoming a police officer is something they wish to pursue.
LAW School (Learning Athletics Wellness)
This is an afterschool program, allowing OPD police officers to connect with 4th graders, showing that officers are the good guys and are there to help them.
Juvenile Diversion
Designed to help kids age 12 – 15 that have been charged with a minor offense, this program promotes lessons on bullying, anger management, decision making, drugs and suicide. Completion of this program wipe the teen’s slate clean for their first offense.
Officer Friendly
For elementary age students, this programs puts police officers in schools to promote recognition and awareness.