Bexar County Sheriff’s Office

Partners with

Communities In Schools

(PHOTO: from left to right front row Deputy John Vasquez, Mrs. Ilsa Garcia, Deputy A.C. Perez, Deputy Anthony Daggett: Deputy Steve Lopez, Deputy Chief Andres Lozano, Sheriff Ralph Lopez, Mr. Ross Trevino, Deputy William Wadsworth, Deputy Harry Chamorro and Deputy Lee Lopez)

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Board partners with Communities In Schools extending the role of D.A.R.E. Officer- instructors to become mentors to “At Risk” kids within the schools throughout San Antonio and Bexar County. Sheriff Ralph Lopez, Deputy Chief Andres Lozano and Ilsa Garcia worked out a partnership that will incorporate the use of all the Bexar County D.A.R.E. “Project Partnership” D.A.R.E. Officer- instructors. These deputies and officers from law enforcement agencies throughout Bexar County will receive specialized training from Communities In Schools counselors. After teaching their D.A.R.E. classes at their assigned schools these D.A.R.E. Officer-instructors will meet with and mentor identified “At Risk” children at those same schools. The goal is too give these children hope while promote continuing education and teaching these “At Risk: kids to make better decisions; thereby reducing the alarming number of student drop outs. Sheriff Lopez summed this concept up saying: “Kids do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care”. “A positive role-model mentor can make a significant difference in a child’s life” said Deputy Chief Andres Lozano who commands the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division of which D.A.R.E. is an integral part of its “Commitment To Excellence” Community initiatives. Ilsa Garcia of Communities In Schools said she was excited “to have such a dedicated, passionate and committed to working with and saving children - team of D.A.R.E. Officer-instructors partnering with Communities In Schools”. This will have a positive impact on Communities, schools and children throughout San Antonio and Bexar County Schools. “When agencies work together and combine their resources the “Children” Win” said Sheriff Ralph Lopez.