Livingston Sixth Graders Graduate from Law Enforcement Against Drugs Program
L.E.A.D. essay finalist and raffle winner Jon Chin with MPMS Principal Bronawyn O’Leary; Officers Joy Klapal, Ralph Kolbusz and Michael Davenport; and phys ed teachers Stephanie Fox and Jessica Blomn
Photo Credit: LPD
By DANIELLE SANTOLA
PublishedJuly 5, 2021 at 2:38 PM
LIVINGSTON, NJ — After working closely all year with Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D.) officers Joy Klapal and Ralph Kolbusz from the Livingston Police Department (LPD), sixth-graders from Mt. Pleasant Middle School (MPMS) recently participated in two culminating events prior to graduating from the program.
During a pizza party sponsored by the MPMS Home-School Association (HSA), Klapal and Kolbusz presented awards to the two students from each class whose L.E.A.D. essays were selected as winners. Their names were then entered into a raffle to win a $100 gift card donated by Livingston Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 263.
MPMS Principal Bronawyn O’Leary drew the winning ticket and presented the grand prize to Jon Chin, who is pictured above with O’Leary and the L.E.A.D officers as well as Officer Michael Davenport, treasurer of the PBA, and MPMS physical education teachers Stephanie Fox and Jessica Blomn.
On L.E.A.D. Day, students participated in various activities that included using “fatal vision” goggles to simulate intoxication while driving pedal carts, hands-on experiences with the Livingston First Aid Squad, Livingston Fire Department and West Essex YMCA, K9 Unit demonstrations from New Jersey State Corrections and speaking with officers from the Newark Police Department’s Mounted Unit and Essex County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Unit.
The L.E.A.D. program is provided to Livingston students through the LPD Community Policing Unit in an effort to deter them from drug use, bullying and violence. In addition to its mission to create a safer, healthier community, the program also aims to enhance relations between law enforcement and local youth.
After completing the program, MPMS students signed banner pledging to make smart decisions regarding drugs in the future.
