Iowa Tribe Police Department Teaching the L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence) Program

Assistant Chief of Police Charles Danker Educating 500 Sixth and Ninth Graders on the Dangers of Drugs and Violence

LINCOLN COUNTY, OK – Sept. 1, 2024 – The L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence) program is beginning for 500 students in the sixth and ninth grades in the Ripley School District, the Perkins-Tryon Public Schools, the Wellston Public Schools and the Carney Public Schools in September. L.E.A.D. is a nationwide nonprofit that works with communities to help students understand the dangers of drugs and violence.

Assistant Chief of Police at the Iowa Tribe Police Department, Charles Danker, was trained by L.E.A.D. to teach the organization’s evidence-based curriculum. Now, during the school day, he’ll educate the sixth and ninth grade students on the importance of avoiding drugs and violence and help them learn how to set goals, manage their emotions and make wise decisions.

“It’s exciting to know that by teaching the students the L.E.A.D. curriculum, which not only emphasizes drug and violence prevention but helps children to gain skills surrounding effective communication and conflict resolution, for example, Assistant Chief Danker has the opportunity to completely change the kids’ lives,” said Nick DeMauro, CEO of L.E.A.D.

“We look forward to seeing how Assistant Chief Danker will help us to continue accomplishing our goal of strengthening police-community relationships,” added Mr. DeMauro. “We’re thrilled that he’s joined our family and know that he’ll do a great job teaching our proven-effective program to the students in Lincoln County.”

L.E.A.D. provides services “On The Street” and “In The Classroom” as it brings law enforcement and communities closer together. The “In The Classroom” program is taught by more than 5,000 trained instructors in 45 states, who are serving more than 500,000 students in 2,500 school systems. L.E.A.D. has a proven-effective, law enforcement-focused anti-drug, anti-violence curriculum for K–12 students in the U.S. The L.E.A.D. curriculum is taught over the course of a 10-week program to educate youth on how they can make smart decisions without the involvement of drugs or violence.

One of the things that Assistant Chief Danker has looked forward to regarding the kickoff of the L.E.A.D. program in Lincoln County is providing the students with information about the risks associated with alcohol, drugs and violence.

“In a society that’s heavily driven by peer pressure, it’s critical for the kids to know how to make the right decisions, ones that won’t be detrimental towards their health,” said Assistant Chief Danker.

“Sixth and ninth graders are at the age where they’re likely to experience peer pressure, so they need to learn strategies that will help them not succumb to it,” he added. “L.E.A.D. provides students with the resources to understand the dangers of certain drugs, which I believe will help them to make sound judgments about the substances, hopefully decreasing overdose rates.”

Assistant Chief Danker believes that the L.E.A.D. program will help to change the negative light that law enforcement officers are often portrayed in.

“Numerous people think that all law enforcement officers are bad, which is a common misperception,” he said. “Getting into the classroom with the students as I teach them vital life skills and how to avoid drugs and violence will show them that the police do care about their wellbeing and about others in general.”

“I anticipate that the community in Lincoln County will be stronger at the end of the program due to the relationships that I’ll have developed with the school children,” added Assistant Chief Danker.

About L.E.A.D.

L.E.A.D. provides the leadership, resources and management to ensure law enforcement agencies have the means to partner with educators, community leaders, and families. L.E.A.D. succeeds by providing proven and effective programs to deter youth and adults from drug use, drug related crimes, bullying and violence. L.E.A.D. is committed to reinforcing the mutual respect, goodwill and relations between law enforcement and their communities. For more information, visit https://www.leadrugs.org/.