Enter the HHPD D.A.R.E Kids FunZone!

In 1983, it was apparent that stopping the supply and abuse of illegal drugs was a nearly impossible task. Children were becoming involved in the drug culture at earlier ages and in greater numbers than ever before. In order to educate elementary school age children to the consequences of drug abuse, the Los angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUS D) combined forces to develop a drug abuse prevention program entitled Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE).

The pilot program began with ten LAPD officers/instructors assigned as substance abuse instructors in the LAUSD. Each Of these officers/instructors participated in an eighty hour training course. The DARE program equips 5th and 6th grade students with the life skills for resisting peer pressure to experiment with drugs and alcohol.

Since DARE's inception, it has served as a model program for agencies throughout the country.

The Hasbrouck Heights Police Department was one of the 1st Police Departments in the State of New Jersey to train and begin the program, implementing the program in December of 1989 in all of the Public and Parochial  Schools. Due to its success within 2 years the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department expanded the program with three Police Officers/D.A.R.E. instructors and began teaching not only the Core curriculum but also teaching to the Kindergarten through the 12th grades. Today the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department has 6 men trained to teach the program.