With the ongoing opioid pandemic and the uptick in violent crimes throughout our country, the Napoleon Police Department is being proactive in teaching our youth to make good decisions. In December 2022, the Napoleon Police Department sent their School Resource Officer, Brad Strickland, to get certified in the L.E.A.D (Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence) program.   

LEAD is an evidence-based, law-enforcement-focused anti-drug/alcohol, anti-violence curriculum for K-12 students. It is currently taught by more than 3000 trained instructors in 42 states. Their curriculum is called Too Good for Violence and Too Good for Drugs.  In this curriculum, students will learn everything from setting goals, making responsible decisions, identifying and managing emotions, effective communication, bonding and relationships, respect for self and others, conflict resolutions, anger management, identifying and managing bullying situations, being a positive role model, peer pressure refusal, safe use of Prescription and Over the Counter medication, and effects of alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana use.   

Officer Strickland will start teaching the LEAD program to the seventh-grade class at Napoleon Junior/Senior High School in February 2023. The Napoleon Junior High seventh graders will attend the program’s 45-minute classes once a week for ten weeks. This will consist of the Too Good for Drugs curricula. This program focus on how students can make smart decisions by avoiding drugs and violence.  

I would like to thank Napoleon Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Erik Belcher for the partnership with the Police Department to offer the LEAD program for the students in our community. 

• Edward Legg
• Assistant Chief of Police
• Napoleon Police Department