City of Dover, Tennessee Police Department Educational Programs

Educational Programs
D.A.R.E.
DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a 10 week program taught by the Dover Police Department in the 5th and 8th grades, at Dover and North Stewart Elementary Schools. DARE is a collaborative effort by law enforcement, teachers and parents in the community to offer an educational program in the classroom to prevent or reduce drug abuse in kids. The DARE Instructor meets with the students once a week with a prepared lesson plan from the national organization of DARE. DARE is a program which has worked very well in educating our children on resisting drugs and violence and teaching them the negative effects that drugs have on the body and what they do to young kids, families, and communities. The Police Department has been actively involved in DARE since 1991.

Reality Program
REALITY is an Alternative Sentencing and Diversion Program designed to teach the Youth issues dealing with Drug and Alcohol Use Abuse. The REALITY program was developed to create an impact on the at risk juveniles in our community. A reserve officer is in charge of this program. This program was developed for young teens and adults who have been convicted of an alcohol or drug charge. These juveniles are ordered by the judge to attended one class a week for a month where they experience first hand the dramatic and damaging affects of alcohol and drug use. These young adults are placed in wheelchairs and adult pampers and responsible for taking care of each other. They also visit a funeral home and plan their own funeral. This program lets them experience their future if they do not get off the path of alcohol and drug use.

In-Car Video
The Dover Police Department has equipped their marked patrol vehicles with in-car video and audio equipment. This is a very key piece of equipment that not only ensures the safety of the Police Officer on the traffic stop by telling the date, time, and name of the officer on the video screen but also has helped in solving citizen complaints that have arisen in the past. We not only use the video to solve complaints but also to ensure our officers maintain their professionalism at all times, and to judge their demeanor and tactics while on the stop.

Citizen Police Academy
The Dover Police Department has established a Citizens Police Academy. The Citizens Police Academy is designed to increase community awareness and form a better understanding between the citizens and the police department through education and training. The objective of the course is to familiarize the public with the operations of the Dover Police Department and provide the students with an inside look at local law enforcement.

The academy is an eight-week course which presents an overview of a small police department trying to serve a rural community. The student will gain an appreciation for the complex, challenging issues facing police today.

Department employees and guest instructors present each session and the students experiences different aspects that an officer faces in his career. Some of the topics covered during the academy are processing crime scene, legal issues, drug identification, defensive tactics, and firearms.

Traffic School

The Town of Dover offers a traffic school available to individuals who wish to keep a citation off of their record. The school includes two videos and open discussion with the instructor. The school is $100.00 and you may only attend once every two years. This school is to aid the individual in becoming a safe driver. If you have any questions about traffic school, you may contact the Dover Police Department at 931-232-5907.