The Petersburg Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce that Deputy DeCarla Evans has successfully graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Officer Training (DOT) program, officially earning her certification as a D.A.R.E. instructor. This prestigious accomplishment equips Deputy Evans with the tools to begin delivering evidence-based prevention education to Petersburg’s youth, empowering them to make safe and healthy life choices.
The D.A.R.E. program, founded in 1983, is a comprehensive K-12 education curriculum delivered by specially trained law enforcement officers in schools nationwide. The two-week intensive training included classroom management techniques, child and adolescent development, effective communication strategies, and the delivery of the current “keeping’ it REAL” curriculum — a scientifically validated program that focuses on decision-making, resisting peer pressure, and fostering positive relationships.
Deputy Evans joins a proud tradition of law enforcement professionals who serve not only as protectors but also as mentors and role models for young people.
“Deputy Evans represents the very best of what community-based policing looks like,” said Sheriff Vanessa R. Crawford. “Her commitment to education, prevention, and youth engagement will have a lasting impact on the students she teaches. We are proud of her accomplishment and excited for what’s to come as she brings the D.A.R.E. program back into our schools.”
The Petersburg Sheriff’s Office remains committed to strengthening community relationships, especially with the city’s youth, through proactive, preventative programming like D.A.R.E. Deputy Evans will begin classroom instruction in the upcoming academic year, delivering a curriculum that goes far beyond drug prevention — one that builds confidence, promotes critical thinking, and inspires good citizenship.
