McGruff Helps To Celebrate Red Ribbon Week

McGruff traveled across the country teaching kids to say “No” to drugs.

By Jeff Broderson, NCPC Staff

During Red Ribbon Week, October 17-25, members of law enforcement, teachers, and community representatives talked to children about the dangers of using drugs. Red Ribbon Week is designed to prevent drug abuse, but it also commemorates the sacrifice made by Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique Camarena who was killed in the line of duty. One tool that many law enforcement agencies use during Red Ribbon Week is McGruff the Crime Dog, who conveys their message to youth in their jurisdictions. McGruff brings an important element to drug prevention as kids relate so well to him.

Corporal Christina Thurman of the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Provost Marshal’s Office spoke to students of Walker Elementary in Miramar, CA, using McGruff as a tool to get a message of drug awareness and general safety to students. McGruff visited the school on October 19 and 20. Walker Elementary School Liaison Officer Liz Barnes said in a press release about McGruff’s efforts that they get “the message across without using scare tactics.” McGruff had an immediate impact on the students. A nine-year-old Walker student said “It was fun; I learned not to take drugs.”

Elsewhere, in Escambia County, FL, representatives of the local Sheriffs’ Department, Brewton Police Department, and East Brewton Police Department, and the 21^st Judicial Drug Task Force spoke with kids at Brewton Elementary School about drug prevention. During their program, which included an appearance by McGruff, students were visited by a helicopter, talked to law enforcement, and learned to say “No!” to drugs. Principal Hugh White said that the student body was eager to hear the drug-free message and “when they (law enforcement officers) asked the students what they should say if they were asked to take drugs, the whole group said ‘No!’”

McGruff attended events throughout the country during Red Ribbon Week and was excited to visit some new places and places he had been many times before, including Eureka and Rockwood, MO, and a place he had visited many times, Miami-Dade County, FL. No matter where McGruff went, he was excited to pass along a message of safety and drug and crime prevention.