Youth Services Unit

The Youth Services Unit is comprised of three uniformed supervisors, one lieutenant and two sergeants, and 18 uniformed deputies.  Of these, nine are school resource officers, who are assigned to each middle and high school, as well as to the Hanover Center for Trades and Technology and the Georgetown School, the alternative education school.  All of the uniformed deputies assigned to the schools perform similar duties, such as:

  • Enforcing all criminal law violations
  • Investigating criminal complaints
  • Teaching classes in school safety, the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse, the law and how it affects you
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School Resource

The School Resource Officer program began more than 20 years ago and consisted of 1 deputy who was responsible for all schools. Today there are 9 School Resource Officers. The School Resource Officer's primary responsibility is the enforcement of criminal law within the school. Additionally, the deputies participate in a wide range of activities both during and after normal school hours. The activities include but are not limited to:

  • Coaching school sports
  • Participating in various youth oriented community functions
  • Teaching academic classes and programs
  • Volunteering with community and school related programs

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D.A.R.E.

The D.A.R.E program is a part of the Youth Service section which is supervised by the Lieutenant of Youth Services. D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a collaborate effort by D.A.R.E. certified law enforcement officers, educators, students, parents, and community to offer an educational program in the classroom to prevent or reduce drug abuse and violence among children and youth. The Hanover County D.A.R.E. Program:

  • Annually instructs D.A.R.E. lessons to over 7,500 elementary school students in grades K-5
  • Consists of 9 full-time deputies who provide instruction to 15 public and 2 private elementary schools located within the county
  • Presents a comprehensive program of instruction of the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs that are commonly abused (The program is sequential and grade appropriated for elementary school students)
  • Works in concert with the schools and the community to provide school-based prevention activities and intervention strategies for the identification, early intervention and support of students at risk for substance abuse