History of D.A.R.E Indiana

The first D.A.R.E. program in the state of Indiana was created in 1985 by the Kokomo Police Department. This was followed in 1986 by Fort Wayne Police Department. Support for the D.A.R.E. program quickly spread throughout Indiana.

In 1989 Indiana Governor Evan Bayh created the Hoosier Alliance, which was mandated to operate the D.A.R.E. program and D.A.R.E. Officer training for Indiana and its D.A.R.E. Officers. In addition, the Hoosier Alliance liaised between individual D.A.R.E. programs throughout the state and D.A.R.E. America in California. It also assisted agencies in the acquisition and distribution of D.A.R.E. materials within Indiana schools.

In 1990 a D.A.R.E. Officers Association was formed. Its primary purpose was to coordinate programs between communities and Indiana D.A.R.E. programs as managed by the Hoosier Alliance.

In 1995 D.A.R.E. America awarded the rights to train Indiana D.A.R.E. Officers to the newly formed D.A.R.E. Indiana Inc., a 501-c-3 corporation under IRS regulation. At its outset, D.A.R.E. Indiana was managed by the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) with financial assistance from the Indiana Sheriff’s Association. Its Board of Directors was composed of police chiefs, county sheriffs, local business people and community leaders from around the state.

In 2000 the IACP severed its relationship with D.A.R.E. Indiana as by that time D.A.R.E. Indiana was capable of operating on its own. The primary goals of D.A.R.E. Indiana are to facilitate the training of law enforcement officers from across the state; to promote the D.A.R.E. program across all levels of the Indiana infrastructure; and to coordinate and liaise with D.A.R.E. America.

The primary mission of D.A.R.E. Indiana is to provide Indiana’s youth with sound decision making abilities, which will ultimately assist them throughout their lifetime. It provides a positive reinforcement and image for local law enforcement. Thanks to vigilant and constant monitoring of curriculum needs, the D.A.R.E. program continues to evolve as our society evolves.

In the late 1980s there were only two D.A.R.E. programs in Indiana, today there are 90 active D.A.R.E. programs. Click here to see if there is a D.A.R.E. program in your county.