Please join the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office in congratulating Sergeant Mike Russell who was awarded the Benatowski/Eanes Officer of the Year Award for his dedication and commitment to the D.A.R.E. Program.
In addition to his regular assignments for the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office and as a D.A.R.E. Mentor, Sergeant Mike Russell assumed the responsibilities of the D.A.R.E. Facilitator in the middle of a Summer D.A.R.E. Officer Training when the facilitator was diagnosed with Covid-19. His passion for the D.A.R.E. Program is unwavering as he continued to support students and mentors successfully completing the training.
Sergeant Russell also serves on the National Training Team for Mentors and trained other Officers to become D.A.R.E. Mentors.
Sergeant Russell is admired by many for his commitment to mentors across the nation, officers across the state, and students within his own community. We are proud to have Deputies like Sergeant Russell at YPSO and appreciate him for being an upstanding example for all.
In more news from the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Diggs has received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Sheriff Diggs has been supporting the D.A.R.E. Program not only in York County but within the entire Commonwealth of Virginia for over 20 years. Since becoming Sheriff in 2000, he has continued to support and expand the D.A.R.E. Program in York County Schools for thousands of students each year.
Sheriff Diggs has continued to support and expand D.A.R.E. for thousands of students in our community. Each year, at the culmination of D.A.R.E. classes in all ten of our elementary schools, Sheriff Diggs attends a ceremony and presents a certificate to each of our approximately 1000 elementary students and 1100 middle school students. In his 22 years as Sheriff, he has personally signed nearly 50,000 D.A.R.E. Certificates. This commitment to the D.A.R.E. Program and the children we serve carries through his entire office, as well as our community.
Sheriff J. D. “Danny” Diggs’ continued commitment to the principles of the D.A.R.E. Program has been evident throughout his career and was honored with the Virginia D.A.R.E. Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.