SHERIFF POINTS TO SUCCESSES

MOULTRIE -- Colquitt County Sheriff Al Whittington described the success of the programs instituted under his administration Tuesday at the Moultrie Rotary Club's weekly meeting.

Whittington told the crowd of about 40 Rotary members and guests at the Sunset Country Club that he was proud of the programs his office has been able to institute for children and youth.  One of those is the return of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., program in schools.  There are D.A.R.E.  officers in every elementary school in Colquitt County and two resource officers each at Charlie Gray and Willie J.  Williams Middle Schools, he said.  Recent budget cuts, however, will force the Sheriff's Department to cut back the program from 17 weeks to only nine weeks.

Despite the budget cuts, Whittington said he hopes to be able to expand the D.A.R.E.  program into the high schools.  Two officers are currently in the high school but do not have the power to arrest anyone, he said.  The department hopes to one day have deputies full time in the high school, he said.

"One of the things that I really like about this," Whittington said, "is, from fifth grade through graduation, we'll be with these children.  One of the big issues here, working with these young people and being around them, we'll know the ones that are more at risk."