Cayuga Co. Deputy John Nedza receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Montour Falls – The New York State D.A.R.E. Officers’ Association awarded it’s highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, to Cayuga County Sheriff Deputy John Nedza during the fifty-third Commencement Exercise of D.A.R.E. Officer Training at the New York State Academy of Fire Science. The Executive Board of N.Y.S.D.O.A. awards the Lifetime Achievement Award only rarely, when an individual has made a significant contribution as a D.A.R.E. officer at the local, state and national levels. The NYSDOA honors Deputy Nedza for having distinguished himself in all of these categories. New York State D.A.R.E. Officers’ Association President, Michael Roden praised Deputy Nedza for his years of work as a D.A.R.E. officer, mentor and training coordinator. Roden stated that Deputy Nedza’s provided leadership and the determination required reestablishing a D.A.R.E. training center in New York “We are most impressed with John’s dedication and tireless efforts to keep professional training of D.A.R.E. officers in New York State. Deputy Nedza has distinguished himself from other in the field by providing leadership and direction for D.A.R.E. programming at the state-level. Appointed by D.A.R.E. America, he currently serves as State Coordinator and has been instrumental in providing annual trainings for officers in the field as well as organizing and conducting 80 hour D.A.R.E. Officer Training for new D.A.R.E. officers.” stated Roden. “It is fitting that this year, New York State D.A.R.E. Officers’ Association recognize Deputy Nedza for his efforts as it coincides with New York’s D.A.R.E. Training Team being awarded training center status from D.A.R.E. America. The accreditation process is a rigorous one requiring compliance with national standards and involving an onsite evaluation by D.A.R.E. America’s Director of Training. John has been instrumental in guiding New York’s Training Team in reaching this level of professional excellence. “At the fifty-third Commencement Exercise of D.A.R.E. Officers Training, Ron Brogan, D.A.R.E. Regional Director, asserted that New York D.A.R.E. is one of the top training programs in the country and serves as a model to other states. “When in 2008 funding for D.A.R.E. programming no longer was part of the state budget, D.A.R.E. training was successfully “reinvented” in New York. John was key in securing funding, recruiting mentors and locating affordable and appropriate training facilities. Deputy Nedza and members of the New York Training Team should be proud to be recognized as a D.A.R.E. America Training Center.” stated Brogan.Cayuga County Sheriff Deputy Nedza serves as D.A.R.E. Officer for the Southern Cayuga, Union Springs and Moravia School Districts. John provides D.A.R.E keepin’ it REAL instruction to students in grades five and seven and has served his community as a D.A.R.E. officer for the past fifteen years.About NYSDOA:New York State D.A.R.E. Officers’ Association provides training services at affordable costs to school-based law enforcement including D.A.R.E. Instructor and School Resource Officer training. Additionally, NYSDOA Conducts training on topics relevant to school-based law enforcement, including but not limited to safety and security, drug trends, gang prevention and intervention, internet safety, healthy lifestyles, problem-solving and anti-bullying.Website: www.nysdoa.comGeneral email: nysdoa@yahoo.comContact:Michael Roden, NYSDOA President