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Lovington police propose using opioid-settlement funds for DARE program and a dedicated outreach vehicle
Summary
Officer Grady asked the commission to allow opioid-settlement money to fund a DARE program and a mobile 'DARE vehicle' for community outreach and school-based prevention, outlined schedule and tracking plans, and received general support pending staffing and budget details.
Officer Grady told the Lovington City Commission on May 11 she intends to use part of the city's opioid-settlement funds to launch and sustain a DARE program in local schools and a mobile outreach vehicle.
Grady said schools have given the program a green light and outlined a 10-week curriculum aimed at elementary and middle-school students; she proposed using the settlement to buy a branded vehicle to serve as a mobile classroom and outreach platform for contests, parades and community events. She said the program would include parental participation opportunities, tracking sheets to monitor contacts with students, and that other law-enforcement providers in New Mexico have used opioid-settlement funds for similar prevention activities.
Commissioners expressed support for the idea but pressed for clarity on long-term staffing and schedule feasibility given existing police staffing constraints. The mayor and other members said budgeting for ongoing staffing and program sustainability will be considered during the current budget process.
Officer Grady said she has two officers committed to the program and that training slots are anticipated over the summer, and she described outreach plans that would combine opioid-settlement funds with business donations.
The commission did not vote on a funding authorization at the meeting; members asked staff to consider the request in upcoming budget workshops and return with a plan showing how the program would be staffed and tracked.
What happens next: The DARE proposal will be considered during the budget workshop and in subsequent staff reports, with commissioners expecting a program schedule, sustainability plan and a proposed budget line for any capital purchase such as the outreach vehicle.
