DRUG POSSESSIONS STILL A MYSTERY

Allen Students Caught Separately With Marijuana

Investigations of how two Allen Elementary students came to possess
marijuana at the school in separate incidences on the same week in
October are continuing.

"At this point Child Protection Services (CPS) believes it's back in
the hands of the juvenile probation and juvenile court system,"
Marion Police Det. Tim Felver said, who teaches Drug Abuse Resistance
Education (DARE) and Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT).

Felver said investigators still do not know where the marijuana came
from in either case.

Oct. 18, a partial unburned joint was found in the desk of a
10-year-old boy. Two days later, Oct. 20, Marion Police officers
again were called to Allen Elementary School, 1115 E. Bradford St.,
by Allen staff. This time a 7-year-old boy was found in possession of
a small baggie of marijuana.

The juvenile probation officer assigned to the cases was not
available for comment.

Felver also said he is currently the only Marion police officer who
focuses on the DARE and GREAT programs.

"I have curriculum for every fourth grader, every sixth grader and
ever seventh grader in (Marion public schools)," Felver said. "You're
talking probably 1,200 to 1,300 students."

Felver said he spends about seven to eight hours a day four days a
week working with the DARE and GREAT programs during the school year,
and also said he sometimes has to temporarily work Mondays.

"I've actually had to work some Mondays, on my day off, to get all of
the students in by the end of year, and to try and get all of the
curriculum taught that is required for the grades." he said.

Felver said there hadn't been any demand for additional programs as a
result of the incidents.

"We are doing all we can do. I don't think we could pick up anymore,"
he said. "I'm physically in both middle schools and every elementary
school in the city, and soon to include Lakeview and St. Paul's."

Because of a tighter budget over the past several years, the police
department has had to move officers into different areas, Marion
Police Chief David Gilbert said.

But he did say the DARE program was still very important.

"We endorse it strongly, and as long as we can possibly do it we are
going to offer that program," he said. "It's one of the most
important programs we have."