Sammons Takes Over DARE Program

Kosciusko County school children were recently introduced to their new DARE officer.

Tim Sammons, a deputy with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, is taking over the DARE program from Tony Ciriello this semester.

Ciriello, DARE officer for 5-1/2 years, recently took another position in the Sheriff's Department. "I feel very confident in turning the program over to Tim," Ciriello said. "I'm very pleased with the fact that he's come on board the DARE family. I believe that kids, families and schools will find it a pleasure and enjoyment to work with Tim."

Sammons said he was asked to join DARE two years ago but didn't want to. He started thinking about becoming a DARE officer when his oldest daughter became school age.

"I realized someday she would have DARE, and I would want someone like me [to teach her]," he said. Sammons believes his friendly personality, moral values and strong family beliefs help make him qualified to be a DARE officer. Sammons and his wife, Ruchele, have been married 10 years and have two daughters.

"[DARE]'s a worthwhile program," Sammons said. "I don't think it will save everyone. There is no fix-all."

"It's a proven program," he said. "If it does help kids through decisions and choices, it helps them out."

Sammons said DARE would like to make kids think twice about taking their first drink or smoke and realizing the consequences of decisions they make.

"DARE is important to show [kids] the other side of law enforcement - to help and protect," Sammons added. "There's a lot more to it than people think."

"It's not a cure-all, but it does give students the knowledge to give a good decision or a poor decision. It does give the knowledge of the consequence of decisions."

Sammons recently completed a two-week training course in Indianapolis to learn how to teach fifth-grade classes in the county schools. This semester, he will teach the 17-week DARE program in Milford, Syracuse, North Webster and South Whitley. In the fall semester, Sammons will teach Burket, Pierceton, Mentone and Akron.

Sammons has been with the KCSD since 1989, when he began as a reserve officer. He became a road patrol deputy in 1994. Sammons said he has dealt with kids who were in trouble while he was a road officer, and when he asked them why they broke the law, they said they needed someone to talk to. Already in the DARE program, Sammons said he has seen that kids often want to talk, and too often, their parents won't talk with them.

The national DARE program began in 1983. All 50 states' programs are taught and formatted the same way.

Sammons describes the DARE class as "a lot of excitement. I look forward to seeing the kids. We're starting to build a rapport."

"I enjoy the rapport with kids," he said. "How precious they are. I wouldn't want to be there if I didn't want kids or care about kids."

Sammons added that he looks at family values in a different light after losing his brother this summer. Jeff Sammons, a South Whitley firefighter, was killed fighting a fire in Larwill.