Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
On Thursday, April 15, Madison County Sheriff David Harper was the guest speaker for the Madison Kiwanis Club. Harper began by saying how grateful and fortunate he was to be able to “follow in the footsteps of Madison's previous sheriffs.” Harper said the smooth transition into office gave him the opportunity to pursue several community-based projects. “I really want to do what I can to marry the Sheriff's Department to the community,” said Harper.
One of the programs that Harper has underway is the Silver Star Club, which is designed to help senior citizens to receive daily phone calls to make sure they are alright. Seniors can sign up for the calls, which take place between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. each day. “If they don't answer the phone, we are going to check on them,” said Harper. “Many of our senior citizens live alone, and this service could possibly save their lives.”
Another program aimed at assisting seniors will provide education that will assist them in avoiding being scammed. “The senior crime prevention program will train the elderly to recognize when they are being taken advantage of before it's too late,” said Harper. “By the time I get a call, it is usually too late. These types of money transfers are often untraceable.”
Sheriff Harper has plans to help students as well. He announced that The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program will be returning to Madison County schools after a lengthy absence. Sergeant Joey Knight and Major Doug Haskell will be heading up this valuable program that seeks to educate students about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and violence.
A couple of new programs will soon be introduced to local citizens. The Teen Driver Challenge will provide young drivers with advanced defensive driving training as well as teach teens how to properly handle traffic-stop encounters. The Citizen's Academy will be a fun and educational way for citizens to learn about the various aspects of the Madison County Sheriff's Office. The six to seven week program will give plenty of hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of the office. Sheriff Harper is excited about all of these programs, and he promises that more will come in the future. “I have lots of ideas, but I can only implement so many in my first year,” commented Harper.
Always looking for ways to make improvements, Harper is hoping to locate a blood hound puppy to train for tracking fugitives or lost family members. “I plan on having kids from throughout the community to help name the dog,” said Harper. “Blood hounds can track for a longer time period, so they are very beneficial.”