On May 30, 42 Bethlehem Elementary School fifth-graders graduated from the DARE education program. DARE is a drug abuse prevention education program intended to give elementary school children skills to resist peer pressure to use tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. Bethlehem Trooper Cody Fitzgerald, along with SRO Mark Cattey led the students in this 10-class course.

DARE goes beyond an education on resisting drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, Trooper Cody said. "The takeaway is that this gives them the tools to make safe and responsible decisions," he explained. The BES 5th grade will culminate this amazing DARE experience with a field trip to the CT Police Academy on Monday. Congratulations!