Published: September 08, 2008 10:02 pm      

LOCKPORT: LPD may start new drug awareness program in schools

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• The department has recently completed an inventory of its firearms room, finding several outdated weapons and firearms.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.