Making The Difference
by: Gail Lang

In Summerville there is a very strong commitment to our youth and community. With only 56 police officers, six of these work directly as a Community Crime Prevention Team with Khan Eakin as the unit supervisor. They plan, guide, and maintain programs such as DARE. It doesn't seem like many men, but these men are totally committed and what they accomplish for our community is immeasurable. With the support of the Town of Summerville, these men keep several vital programs going strong:

DARE -

Working directly with 4^th and 5^th graders (9-11 year olds) throughout the area they try to build communication skills while teaching awareness of drugs. They care about the children and want the best for each of them. They want to see the children succeed in life and teach them not only how to avoid dangers such as drugs and alcohol, but also work with them teaching them to cope with the challenges of life in contemporary America. Teaching them to resist the negative influences around them, to focus instead on their strengths and their potential.

School Resources -

Officers are assigned to each of the middle and high schools in the area, not as disciplinary measures, but to help break down the barriers. They work as counselors, in peer mediation, even coaching in athletic teams. Summerville has 5 officers that work in the schools: Summerville High School - Officer James Adcock and Officer Allan Thomas; Gregg Campus (middle school)- Officer Terrill Harris; Alston Middle - PFC Gary Hamner; and Oakbrook Middle - PFC Johnny Nealy. Thanks to each of you who devote yourselves to our children!

Crime Watch -

While each community plans and maintains their own crime watch, this team overseas and helps to guide each group as necessary. They also track each group to try to determine which activities provide the best results overall.

Visitation/Presentations -

They are ready to go to schools, scout meetings, library meetings - where ever someone needs a special presentation on law enforcement, crime prevention, safety, DARE - whatever the need, they try to be there to fill it.

Bike Patrol -

This began as an experiment - one officer on one bicycle. It proved so valuable that the unit now owns a number of bikes and it's not uncommon to see a police officer peddling down Main Street or Central Avenue. This program makes the officers more accessible to the public and gives higher visibility with lots of one on one contact with both business and the general public.

Summer Camps -

While not having funds to do our own summer camps in Dorchester County, the men volunteer their time to work with Charleston County in their summer camps. "At-risk" children are identified by the school system and then it's up to the officers to plan out week long programs for as many children as necessary. While providing activities for fun and learning, the officers also work to teach the children trust and true friendship while breaking down the barriers.

Sponsoring "Happy Days and Special Times" -

This is a unique organization that works with children afflicted with cancer. They provide a special fun getaway camp for these children while also seeing to their unique medical needs.

Business Watch and other Community Programs

They are always helping various segments of the community in whatever way needed. Their goal is to encourage the local people to help each other. One of their recent community projects included sponsoring five needy families in our area for Christmas. They worked to organize donations from local businesses, schools, and churches to provide well needed gifts to these five families as well as providing a special holiday season from local dysfunctional youths in a Children's Group Home.

The list could go on endlessly for all the programs in effect in towns like Summerville. It takes dedication from unique individuals for such programs to work. Summerville is fortunate to have Officer Khan Eakin overseeing these programs and working directly as the leader for the DARE program. He works diligently day and night to plan, schedule, and encourage each area as needed. Khan is very devoted to his work. You can see this by talking with him and hearing the compassion in his voice. It's not hard to understand why my own children look up to this man with such respect. He stands tall as an excellent role model and guides our children well. Khan is a man that makes a difference in our town.

His main concern is that his and the towns commitment will not be enough. While one man can make a difference, he can only do so much. Therein lies the weakness. Summerville, as well as other southeastern towns, have some great community programs. DARE is one of them, but without the support of the families that make up the communities they can only achieve so much. Whether in DARE or in other community programs, officers like Khan can do so much more if we stand behind them.

Today's life styles have changed dramatically. In many families both parents work, and in others there is only one parent. Both situations leave stress and unsupervised children. The parents themselves often have no support, no one to lean on. Programs such as DARE help, they give the children guidance but the parents are still needed. The solution to a better future for our children and communities cannot be found in one program alone. DARE is only a stepping stone. How it ultimately affects our children is up to us as parents.

There have been numerous reports published over the last couple of years specifically targeted at DARE. Some people question and criticize the merits and wisdom of DARE. They state there is little evidence that this program has done anything to reduce the use of drugs, and some people question how they teach the children. The true success of this program cannot be measured in any figures that can be calculated. How can you measure the feelings that linger in a child for years? Maybe they don't all listen; and yes, some will still fall prey to drugs and alcohol. But there are so many others that do learn, that do remember, that do take the stand against drugs and mean it. The ability of this program being successful for our children lies in how much support we as parents give it. Do you know what your child is learning in DARE? Did you even have a real understanding what DARE was before reading these articles? Have you asked your children what they think of the officers at their schools? Have you taken the time to thank the police officers if you've noticed a positive change in your child?

It's time we all tried to make a difference. It doesn't have to be a lot, perhaps taking five minutes a day to ask our child what was special about their day and then listen to our child's answer. Parents can also take the time to call and thank someone like Khan and others that devote their lives to our children, to let them know they made a difference and to encourage them to continue. Everyone needs a pat on the back now and then, or just to be told it's had an effect, or that 'my child is better and stronger because of you'. Khan, if you're reading this, my children are all better and stronger because of you. I could see the difference before I knew what DARE was. I could see a change in the last year for each of them at Newington Elementary School. I just didn't understand at the time what was making the difference. You did Khan! Thank you! My children listened to you and learned even though I did not pause enough to realize it then. I will be there beside my last child as he goes through your program. This time I will know, as he learns, who it is that is making the difference.

It doesn't have to be a lot, but if we all do something, together we can make a difference.

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