Kenilworth Detective Shapes Students Lives Teaching L.E.A.D.

KENILWORTH, NJ – Brian Pickton, a cop and detective in Kenilworth for 18 years, not only keeps the community safe, but has been shaping the lives of young students for 10 years instructing the L.E.A.D. program at Harding Elementary and Saint Theresa’s.

The Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence (L.E.A.D.) program allows law enforcement to partner with the school district in order to educate youth on how they can make smart decisions without the involvement of drugs, violence or bullying. It also aims to foster lasting relationships between students and the officers who stop by throughout the classrooms. Founded in 2014 LE.A.D. has the only proven effective law enforcement-focused anti–drug, anti–violence curricula for K-12 students in the United States.

The first eight years Detective Pickton worked as a patrol officer and then was given the assignment of School Resource Officer and Juvenile Detective. Detective Pickton is quite the busy man. He is at DBMHS for the whole day and then when school is out he heads to the police station for the rest of his shift. 180 days a year Detective Pickton is at DBMHS, and he also works security at all events, project grad and football games. On top of that he teaches six L.E.A.D. classes (40 minutes a class) a week and the L.E.A.D. program goes for 12 weeks.

“This is the best job I ever had” Detective Pickton said. “I love interacting with the kids and coming to work every day. It is such a privilege to serve the borough of Kenilworth and David Brearley High School in this capacity. Having the opportunity to watch and sometimes guide our young residents into the mature adults they become is incredibly rewarding.” 

The most important part of L.E.A.D Detective Pickton said is “teaching the children to make good decisions.” In his lessons he talks in great depth about peer pressure, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, street drugs and what the long term effects are of using. Another topic he stresses and works closely with the students is is how to be in charge of yourself and avoid or remove yourself from a bad situation. 

It is very important for Detective Pickton to establish a good relationship with the kids and he emphasizes it humanizes police officers. “I want them to see me as not only a police officer but a person as well. Someone that is easily approachable, and they can talk to.”

Here is what some students from Mrs. Duffy’s fifth grade class had to say about what they have learned from Detective Pickton’s LEAD lessons.

Alex- L.E.A.D showed me that smoking is bad for your body.

Nicole- Learning with Detective Pickton was an awesome experience, because he made learning about how harmful tobacco is for your body into fun lessons.

Isabella- Detective Pickton is a very funny and informative officer. He taught us about things we should not try like drugs and smoking. He also taught us the effects of what would happen if we did do drugs by showing us images. 

Dechias- I learned that smoking is bad for you because it can damage your lungs and heart.

Karla- I really liked L.E.A.D! I learned what is inside vapes and cigarettes. We wish that Det. Pickton could come into our class every day. He is kind, funny, and straight to the point.

Gabby- Detective Pickton taught us that nicotine is very addictive. 

Harry- I learned that smoking is bad for your lungs.

Giovanni- Det. Pickton taught me a lot of different things each week. We learned about tobacco and alcohol and how harmful they could be to your body. It was exciting learning something new each week!. I will be sure to never smoke or drink.

Lucas- Detective Pickton taught us how to get out of situations when friends want us to smoke or drink alcohol, and we know that we shouldn’t.

Siena- My favorite lesson was when Det. Pickton taught us how to speak assertively. He makes learning a lot of fun. 

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Original article: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/kenilworth/sections/police-and-fire/articles/kenilworth-detective-shapes-students-lives-teaching-l-e-a-d

For more information on L.E.A.D.: http://www.leadrugs.org