06/08/2026
D.A.R.E. Mentor Officer Training Conducted in Jefferson City, Missouri
The Missouri Police Chiefs Association and Missouri Police Chiefs Charitable Foundation were awarded grant funding for a second consecutive year to support law enforcement training and youth drug prevention initiatives throughout the State of Missouri. As part of this continued investment, a portion of the funding was designated to sponsor a D.A.R.E. America Mentor Officer Training (M.O.T.), which was conducted June 1–5, 2026, in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Twenty-four (24) law enforcement officers representing agencies from eleven states successfully completed Phase I of the D.A.R.E. Mentor Officer Certification process. Participating states included Missouri, Arkansas, California (National Guard Counterdrug Task Force), Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Utah.
These newly designated Mentors-in-Training will play an important role in strengthening D.A.R.E. programs and training teams within their respective states. Participants will complete the final phase of certification during upcoming D.A.R.E. Officer Trainings (D.O.T.s) conducted throughout their home states. Missouri's Phase I Mentor Officers are scheduled to complete Phase II of the certification process in September 2026, which will also be supported through grant funding.
The training was delivered by members of the Missouri D.A.R.E. Training Team under the leadership of State Training Coordinator (S.T.C.) Captain Kevin Woodson (Ret.). Training staff included Captain Kevin Woodson (Ret.), Captain Amanda Blank of the Cooper County Sheriff's Office, Lieutenant Christine Eddleman of the Cass County Sheriff's Office, and Officer Brent Forgey of the Nixa Police Department. The class educator was Mr. Chad Hawkes of the Utah D.A.R.E. Training Center. Administrative support was provided by Ms. Shannon Pugliese and her staff on behalf of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association. Rafael Morales represented D.A.R.E. America and served as the class facilitator.
Phase I Certified Mentor Officers
Agency
Officer
Beebe (AR) School District Police Department, Andrew Pannell
California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, Adrián Rodriguez
California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, Bryan Clay
California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, Fabio Guerra
California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, Fernando Lopez-Iniquez
California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, Nazario Gonzalez
Muscogee County (GA) School District Police Department, Marvion Edwards
Honolulu (HI) Police Department, Michael Olmstead
Honolulu (HI) Police Department, Roger Castrellon
Jasper County (IA) Sheriff's Office, Joshua Britton & K9 John
Charlestown (IN) Police Department, Brandon Lyons
Kansas Attorney General's Office, Jacqueline "Jackie" Beatty
Arkansas City (KS) Police Department, Lucas Lyons
Goddard Unified School District (KS) Police Department, Wyatt Pulver
McPherson (KS) Police Department, Blane Janssen
Mulvane (KS) Police Department, Branden Bohannon
Hickory County R-1 (MO) Police Department, James Cihy
Sedalia (MO) Police Department, Antonio Karr
Washington (MO) Police Department, Zach Hudson
Haywood County (NC) Sheriff's Office, Jennifer Robertson
Richland County (SC) Sheriff's Department, Brandy Browne
Richland County (SC) Sheriff's Department, Michael Peay
Richland County (SC) Sheriff's Department, Maya Stokes
Cedar City (UT) Police Department, Zac Banz
D.A.R.E. America and the Missouri D.A.R.E. Program extend its congratulations to all participants for their successful completion of Phase I of the Mentor Officer Certification process and thanks the Missouri Police Chiefs Association and Missouri Police Chiefs Charitable Foundation for their continued support of D.A.R.E. training and youth prevention efforts.
