Starkville Police Department posted photos on Facebook showing the D.A.R.E. mascot, Daren the Lion, greeting PreK students at Emerson Family School.
The post identified the children as Cpl. Tonya McWhirter’s PreK students and said the mascot brings “genuine love and happiness.” The department added that D.A.R.E. is more than an educational program and helps build positive relationships with youth.
D.A.R.E., a national program used by many law enforcement agencies to teach students about making safe choices and resisting drugs, often uses mascots and classroom visits to engage young children. Community visits like the one documented by Starkville police are a common tool in community policing aimed at fostering trust between officers and residents.
Photos released by the department show officers participating in school outreach designed to create positive early interactions between children and law enforcement. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
