The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department has its newest Drug Abuse Resistance Education certified officer.

Lt. Adam Nicholson graduated and received his D.A.R.E. certification June 21.

Nicholson said he was excited to begin leading classes for fifth graders at Lutheran Central School in Brownstown, Crothersville Elementary School, Medora Elementary School and St. John’s Sauers Lutheran School.

The 10-week program aims to give children the skills to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs and violence. It includes a graduation ceremony.

Nicholson said is ready to get to work.

“I can’t wait to bring the powerful message to fifth graders this year,” he said. “I believe the program is effective and that it’s strong and can without a doubt make a difference.”

Nicholson had to complete a two-week training program at Riverside Intermediate School in Fishers with 18 other officers, including Brownstown’s Jac Sanders.

He said the training was the most unique and difficult he has undergone in his law enforcement career.

“I’ve been to multiple trainings through my 14 years as a deputy, but this was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” he said. “It was very hard, it was a lot of hours and was pretty intense.”

Nicholson other training includes the 15-week police academy, Taser instructor certification, traffic stops, interview techniques and more.

The D.A.R.E. training was about 10 and a half hours of daily class time and an additional two to three hours of homework each h evening. It included a lot of public speaking, lesson planning, written testing and more.

“There were 10-minute speeches, then 20-minute ones, but the second week there were three 45-minute speeches,” he said.

Nicholson said it was, however, worth it.

“At the end, everything comes full circle, you understand why they do what they do, why it’s so difficult and it was rewarding,” he said.

The department needed a D.A.R.E. officer after Officer Jeff Walters was injured and had to retire. Seymour Officer Jeremy Helmsing then taught class.

“We didn’t want to have to ask that of another agency again because that is a lot of their time, plus we wanted to make sure we had a certified officer,” Nicholson said.

When at Brownstown Central High School, Nicholson as a role model for Officer Lou Coryea, the D.A.R.E. officer at that time.

Nicholson has even donated money to help fund D.A.R.E., which is not part of the county’s budget. The program relies on private donations.

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Want to donate to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department D.A.R.E. program?

Call 812-358-2141

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