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Coalition Of Police & Schools
COPS5
OVERVIEW
The Coalition Of Police & Schools, or COPS5, is a
school based community policing program
intended to reach all Galloway Township Public School students. It was
developed in 1995 by Galloway Police Officer Joseph Davies and Galloway
Township Middle School Health Teacher Marguerite Tomasello, replacing the
Township's D.A.R.E.®
(Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. The program
teams police officers and school educators together in the schools. It is an effort for police to not only work in the
schools, but also work with the schools. The "5" in
COPS5 represents the program's five areas of interest:
violence prevention,
drug education, tolerance, safety and civic education.
COPS5 is not a stand alone curriculum, such as the
D.A.R.E.
® program.
Instead, a multi-disciplinary approach
is used to reinforce appropriate issues
in existing school curriculums. Officers are specifically selected and are
required to attend Methods of Instruction and/or School Resource Officer
training before participating in the program. The primary goal of COPS5 officers is to
reinforce the program's five subject areas. Most of these topics
are covered through existing school
curriculums, programs and projects. It is the intention of the COPS5 program
to bolster those already existing subject areas.
Officers are assigned to specific school buildings
and make "guest
appearances" in the classrooms, using team- teaching philosophies with the
classroom teachers.
Officers assigned each school building are also primary responders to
calls for service at their assigned school when available.
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Officers assigned to the program continue their other responsibilities
as well. Some of these officers are in the Patrol Bureau,
some are in the COSAP Unit and others are detectives and supervisors. Officers design their own
classroom presentations, with strong input on content and
presentation from the teacher. All plans are designed for
specific classes and are pre-approved by the teachers. This grass
root teaming of professional educators and law enforcement, each
providing their unique skills and perspectives, is the energy
that fuels COPS5. |
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INFORMAL VISITATIONS
Just as vital a component as classroom presentations by the
officers, are the less formal visitations to the schools. Officers are available throughout the school calendar year to interact
with students not only in formal classroom visits, but also on
the playgrounds, lunchrooms, gyms and neighborhoods. Officers make
themselves available to reinforce the program's five target areas through
any means possible, including assisting with school and/or community related
programs or projects involving Galloway's children. Officers, during the normal course of their shifts, visit their
schools during lunch periods and recess. Officers also attend
after school activities, dances, sporting events and PTA
meetings. |
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| If you have any further questions
contact the program supervisor, Sgt Frank Weir, by clicking the
e-mail link below. |
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| Click links below for more information |
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COPS 5 |
COPS 5 Officers
| 2003 Pride Survey | E-Mail
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Mainland Journal Article |
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