La Crosse’s Weaver named DARE officer of the year

Kurt Weaver of the La Crosse Police Department has been around awhile.

Enough where current officers are recognizing him as their DARE teacher in elementary school.

Weaver was recognized by his peers last week, being named the DARE officer of the year in Wisconsin.

“There’s about 125 DARE officers in the state,” Weaver said. “When they recognize you for your hard work given other great officers it’s very humbling.”

An application was sent in by former police chief Ron Tischer, and two teachers in the La Crosse School District also wrote letters of recommendation.

In his years as a teacher, the biggest change Weaver said he noticed was the shift in curriculum recently.

“The new curriculum launched in 2013 is more evidenced based practices,” Weaver said. “Teachers are seeing a growing need in La Crosse for students because maybe they aren’t getting enough support at home and talks about peer pressure.”

Weaver said schools where he doesn’t teach at are constantly asking for his services.

The La Crosse DARE program began in 1989