The Local Coordinating Council for Drug Free Schools and Communities (LCC) is concerned with making and keeping area schools a safe and drug-free environment for students.

Representatives of the council are from a number of community agencies and organizations, including the Rushville City Police, Rush County Sheriff’s Department and area schools. The group meets monthly, serving as an advocate for keeping students from starting drug and tobacco use.

The organization met last week and heard from Indiana State Excise Police and Master Officer Monty McMahan.

McMahan, a 20-year law enforcement veteran, explained that there currently are 87 excise officers working in the state and they are divided into 18 districts.

McMahan gave a PowerPoint presentation on the activities of his department, which enforces laws and regulatory permit holders and non-permitees regarding alcohol and tobacco sales and uses.

The excise department was established in 1933 following prohibition and instituted in Indiana in 1935. The excise officers gained full police powers in 1985.

McMahan explained that the training to become an excise officer requires 12 weeks of specialized drug and alcohol instruction followed by 14 weeks of schooling at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Indianapolis. Officers also must receive an additional 16 hours of instruction on an annual basis.

During the most recent summer concert series at Verizon Wireless in Noblesville offices made nearly 800 drug and alcohol arrests. As a comparison, McMahan said that during the Indiana University football season this year an additional 800 to 900 similar arrests were made.

In other matters, the LCC was updated on the recently completed Red Ribbon Week held at local schools. Overall, the effort was well received as many schools tried a different approach to past years in an effort to gain the students’ attention on the importance of abstinence of drug, alcohol and tobacco use.

Through the use of grant monies and community funds the LCC sponsors a number of programs throughout the school year and uses the summer respite from classes at area schools as a time to seek new ways to reach and teach students of the benefits of living a drug- and tobacco-free life.

Working with an annual budget of roughly $15,000, plus additional grant monies, the LCC is limited with respect to the programs it may contribute to; they must meet certain criteria set forth by the state. The organization’s funds must be earmarked for either prevention and education, treatment intervention or enforcement and justice.

Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.