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DRAGNET program encourages trust between youth, police

Staff writer

In recent decades, the relationship between youth and law enforcement often has been strained.

Marion Police Department is attempting to reverse that situation with a new program currently underway at Marion Elementary School.

Known as "DRAGNET" (no relation to the popular 1960s TV show with the same name), the program is part of the sixth-grade curriculum this year at the school. MPD officer Duane McCarty is the instructor.

Marion is one of the first schools in the state to offer the program through St. Francis Academy, Inc.

"The program was developed by a retired Salina police officer," McCarty explained. "It's something that lets officers work with kids."

DRAGNET replaces the DARE program which had been taught to fifth graders in previous years. DARE dealt primarily with steering youth away from drugs.

"We did away with DARE because we didn't feel it was actually helping and it was very costly," McCarty said. "With DRAGNET, we have a textbook, do a lot of ad lib, and there's no additional cost involved."

DRAGNET utilizes a question-and-answer teaching style, rather than a straight lecture approach.

"I give them things to think about and they come up with the answers," McCarty said, noting the students are more involved than they would be if he were lecturing at them.

The classroom atmosphere is casual, although students must still raise their hands to before being called on.

"We give out candy to try to create a relaxed atmosphere," McCarty noted.

One goal of the program is to instill a mutual feeling of respect between Marion youth and police.

"Sometimes kids are afraid of police officers. But you can change that if you treat them with respect. You can get them on your side," McCarty noted. "And if the kids are on your side, your problems will diminish.

"Hopefully, after this program, they'll look at me as a friend instead of just a police officer."

Once a feeling of trust is developed between students and local police, McCarty hopes Marion youth will feel comfortable calling law enforcement when they have a problem.

"If they have problems down the road maybe they'll feel safe talking to us," he said.

DRAGNET is an acronym for Decision-making, Responsibility, Assertiveness, Goal-setting, Needs, Ethics, and Trust.

During the lessons, McCarty provides a definition for each of the above terms. When meeting with one MES sixth-grade group Wednesday, McCarty shared the definition for the final T in DRAGNET:

"Trust — Believing in someone, including yourself, to do what is expected."

McCarty recently joined the Marion force after spending numerous years on the Florence Police Department. MPD chief Michel Soyez tapped McCarty to serve as a school resource officer teaching the DRAGNET program.

"Mike knew I loved working with kids," McCarty said. "I love stopping on the street to talk with them."

Although he's nearly finished with his first year instructing the program, McCarty said he still a rookie.

"I'm still a little nervous about getting in front of the class," he said with a smile, noting that he sometimes has video-taped himself while practicing for a lesson.

"Hopefully, I can work out the bugs before I get in front of the students. But there's a little trial-and-error for me too," he said laughing.

McCarty is aided during each class by MES physical education instructor Charlotte Waner, who serves as his assistant.

"Charlotte is the teacher and she knows when to keep them in line," he said laughing.

Before beginning the program at Marion Elementary, McCarty and Soyez attended a class about the program in Salina.

The program consists of 10 40-minute lessons and a final open-note, pass-fail test at the end of the school year. The sixth graders are divided into two groups. McCarty meets every other week with each group.

Besides building bridges between students and law enforcement, the MPD hopes to make the public more aware of the DRAGNET program. In March, the police department had a booth at Marion County Health Fair promoting the program. They also tentatively plan to promote the program during upcoming community events like Chingawassa and Old Settlers' Day, McCarty said.

As an end-of-year activity, McCarty hopes some type of event can be planned with the sixth graders and all Marion police officers where each can get to know the other.

"Maybe going bowling, or having a barbecue with hot dogs or something where the kids can get together with the officers and they can see the officers all together as just regular people," McCarty said.

In some ways that goal already is being realized.

"The kids are getting to where they'll holler, 'Duane,' when they see me at the park or downtown," McCarty said, noting he has asked them to use his first name.

"It's all part of community policing," he said. "If you get the community involved they'll help you solve crimes."

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