Community Rallies Behind Middle Twp Police D.A.R.E. Grads

COURT HOUSE– The Middle Township police department has been teaching the D.A.R.E. program to students since the program made its way to New Jersey in 1988. Over the past 22 years the dedicated officers of the department have educated over 27,000 students in the township schools on the dangers and consequences of using illegal drugs.
On Friday, May 20, D.A.R.E., instructors Cpl. Jeff Devico, Ofc. Jen DeLanzo, Ptl. Mark Higginbottom and Ptl. Josh Bryan graduated 125 more students into the community. The passionate students wrote essays about the resistance skills they learned in the 10 week course. The top three finalist Alison Risko, Khushbu Patel and Billy Graff read their essays at graduation and were given Visa Gift Cards and other prizes.

As community businesses large and small struggle to recover from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, several in Middle Township found the money to fund the police departments D.A.R.E. program. Over $9,000 in funds, goods and services were donated from the following:
Wal*Mart donated $2000
Joe Canal’s donated donated 10 cases of water with a 120 cc motorcycle that was raffled off and raised $1500
Jim Gardner owner of Court House Shell donated the use of three golf carts used during the fatal vision driving course.
Court House Pizza provided 60 large pizzas for the graduation lunch.
Additionally local businesses allowed D.A.R.E clothing bins to be placed on their properties throughout the township which generated approximately $3000. The Municipal Alliance Committee of Cape May County also provided $2500.
After graduation the students were bused to the Goshen sports complex where the D.A.R.E. instructors took off their uniforms to enjoy a day of exciting fun with the kids. Members of the County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit Officer Steve Carty and Officer Eric Teasenfitz gave K-9 demonstrations to the students which included watching Patrolman Mark Higginbottom unsuccessfully attempt to outrun one of the dogs.

County S.W.A.T. team members Sgt. Pat Conte, Sgt. Greg Jackson, PFC. Marcus Phillips, and Ptl. James D’Alonzo dressed in battle gear to give the students a heart stopping demonstration using a live Flashbang grenade in a simulated response to a disturbance on a school bus.

Local first responders from the Greek Creek and Cape May Court House Fire Dept demonstrated equipment with the Rio Grande, Middle Township and Atlanticare ambulance services.
The day ended with a visit from Atlanticare air ambulance “Medevac 5”. Students were able to meet the pilot and medical crew before heading home for the day.