L.E.A.D. Lifetime Achievement Award
L.E.A.D.
Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D.), a national nonprofit organization committed to protecting children from the risks of drugs and bullying, recently awarded Retired Police Sergeant Anthony Manderichio from Kenilworth, NJ, its ‘L.E.A.D. Lifetime Achievement Award.’
“We want to congratulate Sergeant Manderichio on his tremendous dedication toward instructing officers on the L.E.A.D. curricula, Too Good for Drugs and Too Good for Violence,” said Nick DeMauro, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of L.E.A.D. “Sergeant Manderichio is a dedicated member of our family, and we commend him on demonstrating lifetime achievement in promoting school-based policing and police community relations.”
Supported by dedicated police officers, L.E.A.D. provides the leadership and resources so law enforcement agencies can partner with educators, community leaders and families with the only proven effective anti–drug, anti–violence curriculum for students K-12. Over the course of the 10-week program, officers such as those that Manderichio trained teach the L.E.A.D. curriculum to educate our youth on how they can make smart decisions without the involvement of drugs. L.E.A.D. currently operates in 33 states across the U.S.
Sergeant Manderichio spent five years training police officers throughout the U.S. for L.E.A.D. He asserts it is the best program in terms of preventing children from becoming addicted to drugs and violence.
“It is a program that is not only accepted by police officers, educators and parents but by the children it is being taught too as well,” Sergeant Manderichio said.
He also explains how L.E.A.D. is crucial in the sense of allowing children to develop a rapport with their local police officers.
“By having a meaningful experience with police officers due to L.E.A.D., children are more likely to talk to them about problems they are going through or even just become less afraid,” he said. “While students K-12 take up a large part of the program, children’s teachers and parents become involved as well, which also helps to change their outlook on the police force in a positive fashion.”
Sergeant Manderichio says that being able to stay involved has been one of the most rewarding aspects of training police officers for L.E.A.D. Ultimately, he is elated that the program allows police officers to show the purposeful impact they are capable of having on children, parents and teachers, more now than ever.
About L.E.A.D.
L.E.A.D. provides the leadership, resources and management to ensure law enforcement agencies have the means to partner with educators, community leaders, and families. L.E.A.D. succeeds by providing proven and effective programs to deter youth and adults from drug use, drug related crimes, bullying and violence. L.E.A.D. is committed to reinforcing the mutual respect, goodwill and relations between law enforcement and their communities. For more information visit leadrugs.org.
