On July 23, 2021, Deputy Bennett Van Horn, from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, was presented with the Joanne Chauncey Educational Award during the the 85th D.A.R.E. Officer Training culmination ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The selection of Deputy Van Horn was a unanimous decision of the entire DARE officer training staff.

The Joanne Chauncey Educational Award was established by the Florida DARE training staff in memory of the first educational advisor assigned to Florida D.A.R.E. Joanne Chauncey was inspirational in assisting with curriculum development and the implementation of training used by law enforcement officers, with a focus on helping them to understand the different learning modalities present in a classroom setting. Joanne Chauncey, through training, also emphasized the importance of classroom management by teaching officers about brain-based learning through elementary curriculum and lesson preparation. Shortly after retiring from education, Joanne Chauncey passed away. Her dedication to educating children and preparing officers for the classroom is memorialized by the Florida D.A.R.E. training staff with the implementation of the Joanne Chauncey Educational Excellence Award.

Deputy Van Horn demonstrated his teaching abilities through prepared lesson presentation. Deputy Van Horn reinforced his leadership strengths both to his own team and to all D.A.R.E. officers in attendance by adapting to new unprepared curriculum and soliciting feedback from students all while maintaining a structured classroom environment. It was an honor for the Florida D.A.R.E. training staff to present Deputy Van Horn with the Joanne Chauncey Award for Educational Excellence. With continued preparation and increased classroom experience, Deputy Van Horn will undoubtedly be an asset to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office D.A.R.E. program.

Award Nominations for the 2023 D.A.R.E. Awards

Award Nominations for the 2023 D.A.R.E. Awards

D.A.R.E. America is accepting nominations for the 2023 Awards:

  • D.A.R.E. Law Enforcement Executive of the Year, 
  • Daryl F. Gates D.A.R.E. Lifetime Achievement, 
  • D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year, and
  • D.A.R.E. Educator of the Year.

Recipients of these prestigious awards…

RETRO BILL with Key Biscayne, FL Officers

RETRO BILL with Key Biscayne, FL Officers

💙☺️👍 “THUMBS UP” to your week ahead everyone from our Official International D.A.R.E. Safety & Self-Esteem Buddy RETRO BILL and Key Biscayne, Florida Police Department’s (L. to R.) Sergeant B. Hernandez, SRO/D.A.R.E. Officer N. Nieves, Chief of Police F. Sousa, Major D. Valdez, Lt./D.A.R.E. Officer M. Santiago, SRO/D.A.R.E. Officer M. Diaz.

Sgt. James D. Rambur, 2021 GEICO Military Service Awardee

Sgt. James D. Rambur, 2021 GEICO Military Service Awardee

Congratulations to Sgt. James Rambur! James is the recipient of the 2021 GEICO Military Service Award. Sgt. Rambur was recognized for his outstanding work with Oklahoma D.A.R.E. This includes helping out with their annual Oklahoma D.A.R.E. Officers Association...

Calcasieu Parish Captain Receives D.A.R.E. Lifetime Achievement Award

Calcasieu Parish Captain Receives D.A.R.E. Lifetime Achievement Award

Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) – A Calcasieu Parish deputy is being recognized in a big way after spending the last two decades mentoring young adults as part of the D.A.R.E. program. “It is unbelievable, you know, I’ve done this for some many years and acknowledged so many…

Gervais Police Chief Honored

Gervais Police Chief Honored

Mark Chase recently was recognized as the D.A.R.E. Law Enforcement Executive of the Year. Gervais Police Chief Mark Chase was puzzled by a recent phone call he received from the regional director of the D.A.R.E. program, asking him if he had spoken with City Manager...

JCSO Bringing D.A.R.E Program to Local Schools

JCSO Bringing D.A.R.E Program to Local Schools

JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – People who work around kids know that many of them begin using technology at an early age, but it’s not just tech. “Unfortunately, they get involved at a younger age in things such as drugs, and bullying, just because of their…

2022 Kentucky D.A.R.E. Awardees

2022 Kentucky D.A.R.E. Awardees

These recipients were recognized at the state of Kentucky S.R.O./D.A.R.E. Conference on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at The Perkins Conference Center at Eastern Kentucky State University in Richmond, KY. Mrs. Allison Johnson received the 2021-2022 KY’s Educator of the Year...

30 Years of Dedication and Service to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program of Ohio & D.A.R.E. America

30 Years of Dedication and Service to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program of Ohio & D.A.R.E. America

On Wednesday evening, June 15, 2022, Lloyd Bratz & Rafael Morales of D.A.R.E. America were on hand for the state of Ohio’s D.A.R.E. Awards Banquet which was held at the Kalahari Resort & Conference Center in Sandusky, Ohio. At the banquet Officer Donald A. Wilson of the Springboro Police Department and Officer Ralph E. Tanner Jr. of the East Lake Police Department were recognized and presented with an award for the 30 Years of Dedication and Service to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program of Ohio & D.A.R.E. America.

Copyright © 2022 D.A.R.E. America. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2022 D.A.R.E. America.
All Rights Reserved.