D.A.R.E. Program

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program instructs more than 1,000 fifth-grade students annually in the Nash County elementary schools. Sergeant Angel Ricks serves as the D.A.R.E. officer for the Nash County Sheriff's Office. She also serves as a positive role model for our children while ensuring that the D.A.R.E. message is delivered effectively and professionally.

D.A.R.E. is a collaborative effort by law enforcement, educators, students, parents and communities to offer an educational program in the classroom to reduce and prevent drug abuse and violence among our youth.

School Resource Officer Program

The Nash County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officer (S.R.O.) program consists of five Deputies. Each of these Deputies is a sworn law enforcement officer who receives specialized training in the areas of counseling, crisis intervention and management, traumatic event debriefing and mediation.

The roles of these Deputies include peace officer, role model, counselor and teacher. In addition to being responsible for all law enforcement issues that arise on the school campus, School Resource Officers provide instruction on law-related topics and provide counseling to students and staff on law-related issues.

The School Resource Officer Program, which is a collaboration between the Nash-Rocky Mount Schools and the Nash County Sheriff's Office, has School Resource Officers at Red Oak Middle School, Southern Nash Middle School, Nash Central Middle School, Southern Nash High School, and Northern Nash High School.  These officers are available to students, staff and parents on a daily basis and represent the true model of community oriented policing.

Criminal Justice Camp

Every year the Sheriff's Office partners with the Nash County 4-H Club to host its annual Criminal Justice Camp. This camp typically has kids from the ages of 7-14, and uses this week for them to learn about various aspects of the criminal justice world.  We show them not only the things we do at the Sheriff's Office, but some of the other agencies that we assist with such as Fire Departments, Fire Marshal's Office, NC Wildlife Commission, Forestry Service, NC State Bureau of Investigation, and Nash County Emergency Services. 

During the week, kids get a presentation on the 911 Center and even get a tour of it as well.  They get a tour of Southern Police Canine Inc, where dogs are trained locally to become Police K-9's.  They get a demonstration on internet safety and a demonstration of "Fatal Vision", which simulates the effects on your body with too much alcohol.  The kids also get a presentation and tour of the Nash County Detention Center, along with a class on fingerprinting and Crime Scene Investigation.

Each year the kids seem to have a great time, and the Criminal Justice Camp is always in high demand every year.