Morris police officer finishes DARE training

Jessica Smith has successfully completed DARE Officer Training and will become the Morris Police Department's newest instructor. Smith, who has been with the department since February 2006, will be teaching DARE during the spring semester at Morris schools. Drug Abuse Re-sistance Education training consists of 80 hours in areas such as child development, classroom management, teaching techniques, lesson plan preparation, community policing, legal issues in the schools, youth culture and communication skills. She attended training Dec. 8 to Dec. 19 at Illinois Central College in East Peoria. After completing written exams and practical teaching assignments, Smith was awarded certification as a DARE officer and instructor. In addition to bein