You may have noticed some new signs posted around the main entrances into the City of Jefferson.

The Jefferson Police Department is working with the Greene County School District to bring back the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. Police Chief Mark Clouse says it’s been almost two decades since the police department last ran the program in the schools.

“It’s been since 2000 I believe when (Iowa State) Trooper Bob Hurley was the last DARE Officer in our county. So it’s been gone for several years and I think it’s important to get that education to the children as young as you can, and these are fifth graders that we are going to be working with. And Caleb (Jans) and all of us are very excited to get that program started.”

Officer Caleb Jans recently became the new certified DARE Officer. Clouse notes that Jans will not only work with students in the Greene County School District, but also the students at the Paton-Churdan School District as well. Plans are to start the program before the end of the calendar year. Jans is the son of retired Perry Police Officer Pat Jans, who was also a DARE Officer for the Perry School District for 15 years.

Clouse adds that they are accepting donations for supplies and other needed items for the program. Donations can be made to the law enforcement center in Jefferson and checks can be made payable to the DARE program.