Leo is Sylvania’s L.E.A.D. or Law Enforcement Against Drugs program mascot. L.E.A.D. teaches students important lessons about drug and alcohol resistance by covering topics such as understanding peer pressure, developing refusal skills and discussing the effects of substance abuse. The goal is to empower students to make healthy choices and build confidence in resisting negative influences.
Officer Lindsay Russell is one of three local officers coordinating the program for fifth graders. “We educate them on issues and things they might face before they head into those junior high and high school years.”
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The program replaced the DARE project in Sylvania. It is part of a nationwide initiative. “We focus a lot on alcohol as that’s something that we find our younger generation trying to get into. We also focus on nicotine use, tobacco and vapes. That’s definitely been a hot topic in recent years. And we look at marijuana.” Bullying and social media messages are also part of the curriculum. “We talk about making responsible decisions, identifying and managing emotions and those things come into play.”
But the L.E.A.D. program isn’t limited to lectures. The police instructors try to make it enjoyable. “We learn how to facilitate the material, work with our teachers and how to get this across for the kids to make it fun, make it engaging.” The 10-week program includes board games, skits and card games. “It’s funny. We’ll finish a lesson and the kids will be like, why would anyone even do that?”
Students and their parents have responded positively, especially to Leo. The mascot gets plenty of face time to connect with kids at events. “My favorite was at the Northview-Southview game. We had a little guy and he absolutely loved him,” Officer Russell said. “He kept running up and jumping into his arms.”
Russell adds they have also introduced the program at St. Joseph’s and Toledo Islamic Academy.
“I see parents out in the community, and they’ll come up and say hey, you’re my student’s lead instructor and we’ll talk about it. They’ve thanked me for what the kids are learning.”
What’s ahead for Leo and the L.E.A.D. program? Officer Russell don’t hesitate. “I would love to see it expand” and grow through the years.
For more information go to LEADRUGS.org.
