VBSO deputies graduate D.A.R.E. training, sheriff urges council to fund program

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — On Friday, 10 Virginia Beach Sheriff’s deputies graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) America training program.

In 2015, the D.A.R.E program was cut from Virginia Beach City Public Schools due to budgetary constraints. However, Sheriff Rocky Holcomb remains committed to reinstating the program.

“We are proud to be a part of this program,” said Sheriff Rocky Holcomb. “We are ready to go back into the schools to teach and mentor children about the dangers of guns, gang activity, bullying, drug use and so much more. We know it makes a difference.”

According to the VBSO, Holcomb has asked the Virginia Beach City Council twice this year to fund D.A.R.E. and return it to Beach elementary schools. However, no funding has been set aside for the program at this time.

“The VBSO is ready to do the heavy lifting to reimplement the program even better than it was. Providing this free training before money has been put back proves our readiness to serve the elementary school children who need this program,” Holcomb said. “I feel strongly that we need to put D.A.R.E. back into our schools to educate our young people and turn them away from destructive behaviors that kill innocent victims and leave tragedy in their wake.”

The cost to operate the program was about $780,000 per year before it ended.

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