When the fifth grade students at the Atlantic Highlands Elementary School received their certificates last week formally completing the LEAD program given by the local police department, it continued a program that was the first of its kind in Monmouth County when this department started it four decades ago.
When the program started, the department presented DARE, another program presented to students, but changed to LEAD to continue to enable police officers and children to have a rapport that enables youngsters to feel more at ease with law enforcement.
As one of few Monmouth County towns that offers the program, Police Chief Scott Reinert said it is highly successful in achieving its goals and has the added benefit of creating new friendships and trust among students and adults.
Capt. John Amici, now a retired police officer, was the first instructor for the program focused on fifth grade students here. In effect throughout the school year, the program includes instructions on ten different modules, with police officers making more than a dozen visits to the school throughout the program. Talks center on bullying, drugs, alcohol, peer pressure, and decision making even when it is difficult to take a stand. Officers also leave time for open discussion to enable the students to bring up subjects and have open interaction on those topics.
After Capt. Amici, Sgt. Stephen Doherty has been the lead officer in the program and has been heading it up for more than 19 years, also working with Det. Travis Morgan and Ptl Scott Chenoweth. Morgan will take over the directorship and Chenoweth, who completed LEAD training this year, will be more active and assisting him when the program resumes in September for the next class of fifth graders.
The local department funds all the costs for the program, including the brightly colored and designed tee shirts each of the students receives. Traditionally, there is a party at the end of each year’s program and local PBA 242, department police officers, fund a pizza and soda for the event.
In working with the students under the LEAD program, Morgan has indicated he has found numerous benefits and increased communication because of it.
Many students will stay after class just to chat with him, he said. The trust with Morgan is especially beneficial since the officer is also the juvenile officer for the department.
Each of the officers involves talks about the benefits the program provides and the satisfaction the officers receive from knowing they are building solid relationships with students cannot be measured. The chief pointed out results show students are encouraged by their interactions with department members to come to an officer if they have a problem or a situation or decision before there are any serious mistakes that require disciplinary action. Potentially the training and interaction at this age also prevents problems in future years.
“The program puts a name to a face,” the chief said, “ It shows children at an early age that police officers are normal people with children of their own and each officer has feelings behind the badge. All of this helps with building trust with the children and allows them to interact with department members in ways that may not occur without the regular contact the program offers.”
While it “would be great to say that LEAD resolves all issues ahead for every child,” Reinert said, “but it doesn’t. It simply makes children aware of what is out there and advises them of the dangers that lurk around one bad decision.”
In his own experience, the police chief noted he has seen firsthand in the past where a child appeared more comfortable talking to Sergeant Doherty or Detective Morgan while working on an investigation because of the rapport LEAD helped create, rather than with other police officers they did not know by name. “The department knows the program is a good one, officers working in the program have seen positive results and increased confidence and all are appreciative the school supports a program which would not be possible without the school’s support and scheduling in a regular school day’s curriculum, “ the chief said..
