Lockport police may be once again going into city schools to teach children about the dangers of drug use; but this time, the program will also include other important life lessons.
Since the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program ended, police have been looking into new programs to help keep kids off drugs.
In recent months, city police have been working with local principals and school administrators to determine what the program will consist of.
Police Chief Larry Eggert told the police board at Monday’s meeting that the program will likely involve several lesson plans, each on a different subject, which can be tailored to the needs of specific schools.
“It’s diversified quite a bit,” Eggert said. “It’s not just drugs anymore.”
Lt. Doug Haak has sent letters to principals looking for suggestions. Some topics might include dealing with gangs, Internet safety, racism or bullying, with nine weeks worth of material.
“Every school is going to tailor to the school, to the environment,” said board member James Gugliuzza, who is also on the school board. “You listen to Haak and (community liaison Mark Sanders) talk, and you have total confidence that it’s gonna be good.”
The program might be ready to start in classrooms in January.
In other police board news:
• The department has recently completed an inventory of its firearms room, finding several outdated weapons and firearms.
Included in the inventory was a shotgun from 1897, a sniper rifle and other firearms that have never been used.
Once the inventory was finished, the guns were placed up for sale. The money from the sale will be used to restock the arms room, Eggert said.
“We want to re-equip the arms room with some more modern equipment,” he said.
Because the department will only spend as much as it gets for the old firearms, there will be no cost for the city, he added.
Some of the new weapons will be “less lethal” ammunition, including guns that shoot bean bags or other non-lethal items.
“It’s similar to a bean bag round,” Eggert said. “It doesn’t kill them, it just knocks them flying.”
• The department will be sending one of its members to the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., for a special training session in police leadership.
Eggert said the department is eligible to send one person every few years. Detective Lt. Scott Seekins graduated from the program in 2003.
The Common Council has discussed the program and is in favor of it, said board member and alderwoman Flora McKenzie.
“We had a discussion, and we think it’s a great idea,” she said.
The board will discuss a list of candidates to determine who will go, Eggert said.
“We try to pick people that have a good track record here, good leadership skills,” he said.
Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.
Local News
LOCKPORT: LPD may start new drug awareness program in schools
- Local News
-
-
Tucker: 'Best days lie ahead'
The City of Lockport government is smaller than it was 18 months ago but is in a stronger financial place, Mayor Michael W. Tucker said in his annual State of the City address.
-
Trio of new classes proposed for Newfane
Newfane High School could have three new business courses in the fall, one of which would center on video game design.
-
Municipalities take wait-and-see approach on SPCA funding
The City and Town of Lockport are each withholding payments to the Niagara SPCA, while other Eastern Niagara County towns are taking a wait-and-see approach.
-
Rocky II
Friends of Deputy Craig Beiter of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department plan a benefit on Feb. 26 to raise money to buy and train a new dog for the K-9 Unit.
Beiter’s German shepherd, Deputy Rocky, was killed while on duty in December, and the sheriff’s department is close to getting a replacement. -
Basket Factory closes
The Basket Factory has gone out of business.
The owners, Julie Thompson Riegle and Dawn Thompson, made the difficult decision last Monday and put the sign on the door Tuesday. -
No snow is no problem
Unseasonably warm weather didn’t keep Roy-Hart Winterfest from being a fun day for the families who came out to Roy-Hart Elementary School on Saturday.
More than 500 people attended the third annual festivities, which Gasport Lions Club officials said was a big increase from last year. The halls of Roy-Hart Elementary were filled with vendors, programs and movement as excited children rushed from one activity to another. -
Shovel-ready park has perks
At first glance, the big, orange road sign announcing vacant property on Lockport Road as a “shovel ready certified” building site seems a bit gratuitous.
To companies looking for new places to launch a business, it’s not. The sign in their eyes is a welcome mat, for in three words a community pronounced itself ready, willing and able to make a deal quickly. -
Roy-Hart to play the big stage
A group of local students will be performing this month at Kleinhans Music Hall just before a BPO concert.
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will welcome the Royalton-Hartland High School Mixed Chorus as part of the BPO’s Community Spotlight program on Feb. 19 at Kleinhans in Buffalo. The chorus will perform under the direction of Carolyn Unitas Roos and accompanied by Janice McKinney. -
Former NFTA cop sentenced
A former Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority police officer will spend six years on probation for sending a sexually explicit photo to a teenage girl, a girl he later had a sexual encounter with.
In addition, John W. Ingham will spend 25 weekends in the service of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Work Program. Ingham was sentenced Thursday by State Supreme Court Justice Richard C. Kloch, Sr. Ingham will also register as a sex offender. -
Speakers address SPCA contract
Animal rescue volunteers want the City of Lockport to hit the SPCA of Niagara where it hurts — in the pocketbook — and help force reform of the troubled animal welfare organization.
Volunteers from multiple small, private rescue groups, and the SPCA itself, descended on the Common Council Wednesday to talk about the city’s ongoing involvement with SPCA. - More Local News Headlines
-
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
