Staff
The Festus Police Department, in conjunction with an agreement with the Festus R-6 School District, has four full-time officers assigned to the schools in the position of School Resource Officer. They are Corporal Michael Cavaness, DSN 55, Patrolman Josh Rodriguez, DSN 48, Patrolman James Hill, DSN 63, and Patrolman Courtney Elking, DSN 45.
D.A.R.E.
Patrolman Josh Rodriguez has also been assigned as the new D.A.R.E officer. D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a collaborative effort between the Festus Police Department and the Festus R-6 School District. D.A.R.E is an educational program for fifth-grade students to prevent or reduce drug abuse and violence among children. The emphasis of D.A.R.E is to help students recognize and resist the many direct and subtle pressures that influence them to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants, or other drugs. It also teaches them how to avoid or resolve violent situations.
D.A.R.E is a 10-lesson program in which the officer teaches the fifth-grade students for one class period a week. The course culminates with a D.A.R.E graduation in which parents, grandparents, and others are invited to participate.
