D.A.R.E. PROGRAM
The Sterling
Police D.A.R.E. program is funded by the Sterling Police
Department and Community fundraising. The program has been
presented in Sterling schools since 1986. Nationally, criticism
of the D.A.R.E. Program has been publicized. Locally in Sterling,
all schools indicate that the program makes a difference.
Responding to critical studies, D.A.R.E. in
Sterling is offered at various grade levels. Introductions are
made in kindergarten and V.E.G.A. (Violence Education and Gang
Awareness) is presented in 4th grade. In 5th
grade students receive the seventeen-week D.A.R.E. core
curriculum. Junior high age students receive the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang
Resistance Education and Training) program and high school
students are back to the D.A.R.E. high school program. Sterling
students therefore have character building educational contact
with uniformed officers into their high school years.
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G.R.E.A.T. PROGRAM
Gang Resistance Education and Training was chosen
in 1998 to replace the D.A.R.E. curriculum at the middle school
level. At the time it was felt that this program would best suit
the needs of Sterling Middle School students. G.R.E.A.T. alerts
children to the dangers of joining a gang. The curriculum covers
topics on peer pressure, taking risks, consequences, ways to say
“NO”, reducing violence, breaking laws and the penalties involved.
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“GREAT TIMES” SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM
“Great Times” was developed as a summer component
of the GREAT program. In 1999 the department realized that
particularly during summer, children are often unsupervised and
get into trouble during the day or early evening hours.
 The “Great Times”
Program was designed to be educational and keep kids active
through the day. The program works with 6th,
7th and 8th grade students three days per
week over a summer time 8 to 10 week period. During the morning, students play a “guess my occupation” game with a variety
of professionals during a lecture, question and answer session.
The importance of an education is brought home. Free lunch is
provided and the afternoon session brings team building
activities, sports
or educational field trips.
The program has been funded by a yearly grant from
Sterling Township. Sterling Unit 5 School District allows the use
of Challand Middle School facilities and the pictured bus was
obtained with the help of Self Help Enterprises and private
donors.
Senior citizen volunteers, volunteers from various
social agencies and city departments help with the afternoon
activities.
 
The “GREAT TIMES” program was a second place 2000
Governor’s Hometown award winner.
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MOOSE MINGLE MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCES
In
late 1999 Sterling officers spoke with members of the Local Moose
Lodge 726 and Women of the Moose Lodge 267 in attempt to raise
funds to support our “Teen Time” program. Following the
presentation, Moose members asked what we were doing for the
Middle School aged members of our community.
 From that simple
inquiry were born the “Moose Mingle Middle School Dances”. Each
month one dance is held for 6th, 7th and 8th
grade students which now garners an attendance of 700 to 900 kids.
The purpose is to give kids a positive activity in which they can
“mingle” with police officers and adults from the community.
The response to
the dances has been so tremendous that they had to be moved from
the Sterling Moose Club to a Sterling Park District sports
complex. The Moose Lodge provides snacks, pop, ice and dispensing
equipment. Moose members along with parents, teachers and police
officers volunteer to chaperone.
The Moose Mingle dances were a second place
winner in the 2001 Governors Hometown Awards.
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TEEN TIME
 Sterling Teen
Time started several years ago as an attempt to provide positive
sports related activities for Sterling high school age students.
Three years ago the department
realized that Middle School students,
grades 6, 7 and 8 were more in need of structured evening
activities.
In cooperation
with the Sterling Park District the police department holds “TEEN
TIME” one night per week at Westwood Sports Complex. Area youth
are able to interact with police officers and park district
employees while enjoying free access to basketball, in-line
skating, roller hockey, skateboarding, batting cages, music and
refreshments.
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BICYCLE RODEO
The Bicycle Rodeo is a yearly event that places
emphasis on the importance of bicycle safety and everyday issues.
The event encourages family participation; bringing mothers,
fathers, aunts, uncles and grandparents together for a fun,
educational proactive event.
 Bicycle safety courses are offered to educate
community members of all
ages on Rules of the
Road. The first 300 participants receive a bicycle
helmet. Sterling firefighters bring their fire safety house and
CGH Medical Center paramedics
display their ambulance equipment.
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PEER JURY
The Police Department Peer Jury program began in
October of 1996. The Peer Jury program is an innovative
alternative used to divert non-violence first time offenders from
formal court action. Offenders who agree to participate are
judged by a jury of their peers and may be sentenced to public
service. Failure to comply with the sentence violates the
agreement and brings the offender into contact with Whiteside
County Court Services.
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EXPLORERS
The Sterling Police Department Explorers Post 613
was chartered in 1994. The Law Enforcement Explorers program is a
branch of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women ages
14 to 20. Explorers learn the fundamentals of law enforcement
through interaction with department personnel.
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