The Whitehall Borough Police Department’s D.A.R.E. Program began in the fall of 1993 with classes at Whitehall Elementary School, Saint Gabriel School and Harrison Middle School. The program initially targeted 5th and 6th grades with two uniformed instructors. Officer Bruce Marchetti retired in 2009 and Officer David Artman is currently handling the entire program which focuses on:
- Equipping elementary school students with skills for resisting social and peer pressures to experiment with tobacco, drugs and alcohol.
- Utilizing teachers, parents and community leaders when assessing risky decision making at school and home.
- Assisting students with a working solution when they are confronted with violence, anger and bullying by other students.
Between 1993 and the present, over 10,000 students have participated in the program with very positive results.
The Whitehall Borough Police Department is continuing to lead the way with new initiatives that expand outside the usual D.A.R.E. programs - Red Ribbon Week Bowling, the D.A.R.E. Hockey Team, the Teen Center at Harrison Middle School, the D.A.R.E. Corner Article, and for the last two years in conjunction with the Baldwin Borough Police Department, “Cop Talk” at Baldwin High School.
In the years to come, the Whitehall Borough Police Department will continue to strive to develop new ways to conquer the drugs and violence that menace our children.
If there are any questions or comments concerning the D.A.R.E. Program, you can direct your inquiries to:
Officer David J. Artman
Whitehall Borough Police Department
412-884-1100
