originated in Los Angeles, California in 1983, and in 1997 the Pocahontas Police Department initiated the D.A.R.E. program in Pocahontas schools. The citizens of Pocahontas have welcomed D.A.R.E. with open arms and have made the program a huge success for both the Pocahontas Police Department as well as Pocahontas Public and Private Schools.
Sergeant Brian Tilghman was named Pocahontas Police Department D.A.R.E. Officer by Chief Cecil Tackett in 2012. Sergeant Tilghman is a Certified D.A.R.E. Officer, having completed the intense training course required by the Drug Awareness and Education Program. He began his duties working with fifth-graders at Pocahontas’ M. D. William’s School and St. Paul Catholic School in the fall of 2012.
In 2015, Sgt. Tilghman and Officer Luke Lane began sharing the responsibilities of the D.A.R.E. program in Pocahontas, with Sgt. Tilghman working with the students at St. Paul Catholic School, and Officer Lane working with the students at M. D. Williams School.
In addition to his D.A.R.E. responsibilities at St. Paul, Sergeant Tilghman serves as an Ambassador on behalf of the Pocahontas Police Department. He attends Pre-K through high school functions, when requested. He has set up “Child Fingerprinting” stations at several businesses in Pocahontas, and is an active advocate for child safety training.
In 2015, Officer Luke Lane became the Pocahontas Police Department School Resource Officer for the Pocahontas Public School system. His service as School Resource Officer allows him the opportunity to serve as the Certified D.A.R.E. Officer for M. D. Williams Public School. Officer Lane completed the intense training course required by the Drug Awareness and Education Program, and having served as Certified D.A.R.E. Officer in a previous position, he has been associated with D.A.R.E. for several years.