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Instructor: Lt. Lynn Ruch (lruch@lavergnetn.gov)
BIO:
La Vergne Police Department Officer Lt. Lynn Ruch, working with fellow officer Lt. Cindy Murphy — created the first D.A.R.E. program (in La Vergne) in Rutherford County in 1991. He is a 18-year veteran of the La Vergne Police Department.
WHAT IS D.A.R.E AND DOES IT WORK?
Drug Awareness Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is a national program created by Los Angeles Police Department Chief Daryl Gates in 1983 to educate young people about the dangers of using and abusing drugs. The La Vergne program began when Lt. Ruch and Lt. Murphy were involved in the "Just Say No" program. The Tennessee Highway Patrol contacted Lt. Murphy about D.A.R.E. and the excitement began.
Lt. Ruch said that in La Vergne, D.A.R.E. is a powerful and effective method to help keep young people off drugs. "In the years that I’ve done D.A.R.E., I’ve seen just a few in trouble with the law," Ruch said. More than 2,000 students have graduated from the program.
THE PROGRAM:
Lt. Ruch teaches the 10 weeks of lessons to each of the fifth grade classes at Roy Waldron school. The annual graduation usually takes place in May.
TEACHING "STRANGER DANGER":
Each year, the D.A.R.E. instructors teach "Stranger Danger" to first graders at La Vergne Primary school. The four-weeks of lessons are designed as a precursor to the fifth-grade D.A.R.E. program, allow the students to see the officers in a positive light and teach the dangers of strangers and drugs.
GRADUATION:
At graduation, students receive T-shirts and a diploma. Winners of an anti-drug essay contest receive a gift certificate from Toys R Us. First, second and third place winners also receive other special gifts, such as gift certificates.
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At the end of the school year, graduates get to take a field trip, sponsored by the D.A.R.E. program. Past trips have been to the Tennessee Aquarium and Nashville Shores.
General Lee visits 2007 DARE classes
Lt. Lynn Ruch and Officer Sheree Robertson brought in the late country artist Waylon Jennings's General Lee car to show the kids in the 2007 DARE class at Roy Waldron School.
QUESTIONS / COMMENTS?
Call Lt. Ruch at La Vergne Police Department at 793-7745.
If you would like to visit the National D.A.R.E. Web Site, please click here.