FALLSBURG - FCSD School Resource Officer (SRO) Phillip Brooks welcomed all fifth graders into the Benjamin Cosor Elementary School (BCES) cafeteria on June 6, 2022 to present the students with their Drug Abuse Resistance Program (D.A.R.E.) certificates of completion of the year-long course. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ivan Katz, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Sally Sharkey, Principal Mary Kate Stinehour, and Fallsburg Chief of Police Simmie Williams were present to honor the students. Chief Williams was the first ever SRO in FCSD many years ago.

Every student wrote an essay about the importance of the program and what they learned about making good decisions, resisting negative peer pressure and doing the right thing in school and in life. Officer Brooks had to choose one essay for special recognition. He said it was a very tough decision.

He chose Angelica Martinez Lopez for the award. She re­ceived app­reciative applause from all her classmates and their teachers when SRO Brooks presented her award. Before the program ended, SRO Brooks announced that he would be SRO at the Fallsburg Jr/Sr High School next year and former SRO Michael Summa would return to BCES.