Community Programs

D.A.R.E. Program

D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a program taught by our Police Officers to students on the fifth and seventh grade levels. We reach approximately one thousand, one hundred students a year with this program.

D.A.R.E. is a collaborative effort by D.A.R.E. Certified Law Enforcement Officers, educators, students, parents and the Community to offer an educational program in the classroom to prevent or reduce drug abuse and violence among children and youth. The emphasis of the program is to help students recognize and resist the many direct and subtle pressures that influence them to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, Marijuana, inhalants and other drugs or to engage in violence.

D.A.R.E. is organized into nine 45 minute lessons in the fifth grade and six 45 minute lessons in the seventh grade.

The Ridgefield Police Department presently has five Police Officers involved with teaching the program on a part-time basis. The D.A.R.E. program in Ridgefield began in the 1990-91 school year at the fifth grade level. In 1996-97, the program was expanded to include the 7th and 10th grades; 10th grade D.A.R.E. was eliminated in 2004.

This program is funded through the budget process, residents and members of the Ridgefield Police Department's Police Benevolent Association and Police Fund.

G.R.A.D.D. Program

G.R.A.D.D. (Government of Ridgefield Against Drunk Driving) is a cooperative effort between the Police Department, students, faculty, Town government and citizens to attempt to ensure a safe and sober graduation period for our students. We all know that graduation from high school is a time of celebration for all students. Unfortunately, this celebration often involves alcohol and/or drugs. We work along with the other factions in our Town to prevent this.

The Ridgefield High School has designated white graduation gowns for females each year. They have also designated four colors for the male graduate. Each class has its own color and when the Senior Class graduates, the Freshman Class then takes that color and eventually, as a Senior, will wear that color gown when they graduate.

Police Officers wear ribbons on their uniforms (white for female students and the year color for male students) to signify our support for them. We also fly these class colors on the Department's flag pole and ribbons are tied to the antennae of our patrol units

Additionally, signs are printed at the high school and given to Town merchants to display in their front windows as a show of support for the program. The Department also gives these class ribbons to the members of the graduating class so they can tie them on their own vehicles and their family's vehicles.

Police Officers do an anti-drunk driving presentation at a school assembly to demonstrate the dangers of drunk driving. The media generates much publicity for this cause beginning with a kick-off ceremony approximately one month before graduation. The program then runs for one month until the day after graduation.

Halloween

The Ridgefield Police Department annually plans, organizes and stages a large Halloween party for the youth of Ridgefield. This party is held at the Parks & Recreation Yanity Gym on October 31^st. The gymnasium is decorated in the appropriate decor by members of the Police Department (both civilian and sworn), members of the Ballard Green Senior Center and other Town residents. Members of the Ridgefield Alternative High School put together an "awesome" Haunted House every year.  Refreshments are served and prizes are awarded during our "parade of costumes".  

Parents: 
Be sure to inspect all treats that your child receives from outside the home; all treats should be in the original sealed wrapper. 

If your children are going to go out with someone other than yourself, be sure to know their route, the friends they will be with and that there is adequate adult supervision.  Be sure you are able to locate your child, if necessary.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

To reduce the risk of being victimized at home and out in public, neighbors should be observant of and report any suspicious activites.  They should also get to know their neighbors and their routines so that activites that are out of the norm can be reported.

Residents should get into the habit of always locking their doors, windows and automobiles (even in their driveway).  Many thieves have easy access to their intended target.
Many crime prevention experts recommend deadbolt locks for exterior door security; be sure that the bolt extends a minimum of one inch into the door frame to provide adequate security.
Again, always remember to lock up; a lock provides no protection if left unlocked.

Residents should be sure they have adequate lighting around entranceways, garage doors and walkways.  If flood lights are used, be sure to aim them away from the entranceways in order to see anyone approaching; strategically placed floodlights will make your home less inviting to a burglar.

The Academy provides a forum by which residents can interact with the men and women (sworn and non-sworn) of the Department who faithfully serve their Community. The Ridgefield Citizen Police Academy enables students and Police Department employees to better recognize their responsibilities toward each other in a partnership to maintain a safe Community and improve the quality of life.

This program does not train and/or authorize any resident to act in the capacity of a Police Officer. The Town of Ridgefield and its Police Department expect residents who witness a crime to call 911 and/or seek Police assistance.