Fort Couch partners with township police for alcohol awareness
Each year Fort Couch Middle School partners with the Upper St. Clair Township Police to deliver a series of three lessons to all eighth-graders about the laws surrounding alcohol and drugs, specifically focusing on the dangers of underage drinking. A team of five township police officers taught the lessons including Cpl. Michael Lebetz, Lt. Jon Wharton, Sgt. Michael Lindenfelser, Sgt. Michael Ventura and Officer Michael Cafaro. “These types of programs are important because we live in an age of constant advertisement and social media. Kids see drugs and alcohol glamorized in movies and music. It’s important they see what kind of damage can be done if they decide to abuse drugs and alcohol,” Lebetz said. The series of lessons focus on state and federal laws regarding alcohol and other drugs; trends including a discussion on medicinal versus recreational marijuana; and a final lesson that gives an overview of a field sobriety test. As part of the discussion of probable cause and field sobriety tests students have the opportunity to experience intoxication simulation goggles that illustrate the level of impairment.