NEWS photo Mike Wakafleld

NORTH VANCOUVER RCMP Const. Dan Cochian lets little Cara
Grighton try on his hat and belt after speaking to her North Van-
couver class about safety. Cochlan is one of three RCMP officers

who work in local schools.

DAY

h Shore News - 49

Liaison program puts officers into schools

WITH youth violence increasing on the North Shore and
elsewhere, the North Vancouver RCMP are trying to play
a positive role and reach out to local students through the
RCMP’s schoo liaison program.

Three North Vancouver RCMP
constables — Mike Lidstone, Dan
Cochlan and Pat Thibealtt — have
been assigned to work in North
Vancouver elementary and sec-
ondary schools and talk with stu-
dents.

The four objectives of
school liaison program are to:
@ develop a better understanding
between youth and the police;

@ create a better understanding
of the role of a police officer;

@ create a better understanding
of why there are laws and why
they are enforced;

@ and create a better under-
standing of an_ individual’s re-
sponsibility in the community.

The program is currently pres-
ented in nine North Vancouver
secondary schools and 34 elemen-
tary schools.

For primary grade pupils (from
kindergarten to Grade 3), the
three school liaison officers speak
about such issues as the role the
police play as community helpers,
the Block Parent program and
stranger, pedestrian and bicycle
safety.

For iatermediate grade students
(from Grade 4 to 7), the three will
talk abcut vandalism and pranks,
shoplifting, the Canadian court
system, peer pressure, drug and
alcohol awareness, Halloween
safety and babysitter safety.

The topics discussed with high
school students (from Grade 8 to

the

HOLIDAY HOURS
Wed., 11 Nov. 12-5 pm

By Surj Rattan
News Reporter

12) include peer pressure, drug
and alcohol awareness, the Young
Offenders Act, gangs, impaired
driving and sexual assauit.
Lidstone said communication
with students is important, but he
admits that sometimes it can be

dents the three deal with are good
kids, but the other 5% can make
things difficult for other students.

Lidstone said he has noticed a
general increase in violence at
local schools.

Thibealt added that he often
finds himself talking to students
about any subject, not just about
crime.

“We try to tell the kids that
we're there for them.

“I can go to a schoo! and talk
to them about a:ything, such as
the U2 concert held last night.
We'll play sports with them and
go to the dances they hold,’’ said

44 We try to show the kids that were
human beings. It’s very challenging.
There seems to be a general code of

silence among youth, and we find this

code cf silence is very hard to break.¥9

frustrating getting students to
trust the police.

“We try to show the kids that
we’re human beings. It’s very
challenging. There seems to be a
general code of silence among
youth, and we find this cede of
silence is very hard to break,”
said Lidstone.

He added that 95% of the stu-

-Mike Lidstone

Thiebealt.

Cochlan said some students are
surprised to hear that police of-
ficers do not always wear their
uniforms. .

“I tell them that I don’t wear
this uniform when I’m mowing
the lawn and they’re surprised to
hear that we will actually walk
around in shorts and T-shirts.”

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