Eagle Pass Police Department suspends D.A.R.E. Program for summer

By: Jose G. Landa
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013

The City of Eagle Pass Police Department has suspended the D.A.R.E. program for the summer months of 2013 through a joint decision by interim Eagle Pass Police Chief Bruce Mills and interim City Manager Gloria Barrientos.

The City of Eagle Pass cited the lack of police personnel to patrol the city as one of the reasons for suspending the D.A.R.E. during the summer. The two Eagle Pass Police Officers assigned to the D.A.R.E. program have been reassigned to the Patrol Division to assist with the patrolling of the community. Another reason cited by the City of Eagle Pass for suspending the D.A.R.E. program during the summer is that the majority of children and students are out on vacation and demand for the program diminishes during the summer.

With over 15,000 students on vacation during the summer and with free extra time on their hands causes an increase of juvenile delinquency during the summer according to the Maverick County Juvenile Probation Department.

“July is an important month which sees a rise of juveniles getting into trouble with delinquency. This fact supports the need for programs such as D.A.R.E. to remain active and operational during the summer months,” said Eagle Pass Police Department D.A.R.E. Officer Jose Regalado.

By suspending the D.A.R.E. program during the summer, local youth groups and organizations will not have the benefit of D.A.R.E. program presentations and advocacy such as at the Boys and Girls Club, the Children’s Public Library, Paint the Town, Eagle Pass Housing Authority summer youth program, local summer youth programs, and the Elderly Nutrition Program.

Local parents and youth leaders lament the City of Eagle Pass’ decision to suspend the D.A.R.E. program during the summer months of this year. They believe that on the contrary, the D.A.R.E. program is needed even more during the summer months to present positive reinforcements and role models to local youths with extra time and activities on their hands than during the school year. The proof is the spike of juvenile delinquency annually experienced during the month of July in the community.

Local parents and youth program leaders believe that it is always better to prevent than to lament later.