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Master Deputy Mark Medford, D.A.R.E. Program Coordinator for the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, received the E. Stuart Kitchen D.A.R.E. Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the 2010 Virginia School and Campus Safety Training Forum in Norfolk this past week.

 

Established in 2008, the E. Stuart Kitchen D.A.R.E. Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a person who has given their all to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (D.A.R.E.) and has the passion and dedication to D.A.R.E. here in Virginia. Mark has been a D.A.R.E. officer, a supervisor, and a friend to D.A.R.E. in Virginia for over 20 years. Whenever the Virginia D.A.R.E. Association has needed him, he would do anything he could to help out. Master Deputy Medford would consult with the Virginia State Police D.A.R.E. State Coordinator on many issues relating to D.A.R.E. in Virginia and the Nation.

 

Mark served many years as the State representative to the International D.A.R.E. America Instructional Advisory Board during a time where he was instrumental in bringing the new elementary program to Virginia.

 

Master Deputy Medford has worked for the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office since 1986. “I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity to serve the citizens of York County as a D.A.R.E. Officer. The information that we facilitate in the classrooms has a huge impact on the positive choices and behaviors of our young people. I’m very honored to have received this award and for what it represents. Community policing programs like D.A.R.E. and Crime Prevention have long lasting positive effects on the quality of life in a community.”

 

York-Poquoson Sheriff J.D. “Danny” Diggs commented, “Mark is very deserving of this award. Very few have dedicated their lives and committed so much time and effort to the D.A.R.E. program. His devotion has had an impact on thousands of York County youth.”