The Rapid City Police Department takes an active role in its Community. Through leadership roles in many community programs, the Department shows its dedication to the citizens of Rapid City.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE):

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program is a joint project between the Police Department, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, Box Elder Police Department, Ellsworth Air Force Base (Law Enforcement), the Rapid City Public School System and Douglas School System designed to prevent drug abuse in children and youth. This program, consisting of 17 lessons lasting approximately 45 minutes each, is administered to every fifth grader during the school year. Eleven RCPD officers spend seventeen weeks teaching students about drugs and ways to avoid using them. Lessons include information on peer pressure, self-esteem, conflict resolution, decision making skills, consequences, and ways to say "no."

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is taught in all of the Rapid City elementary schools. This prevention program is primarily designed for fifth grade students to help them resist the increased pressure to use drugs and alcohol as they prepare to enter middle school.

Parent Cruiser Night:

The Audio Visual Unit of the Rapid City Police Department works with officers in organizing city wide events such as the Parent Cruiser Night.

Parent Cruiser Night's focus is on parents and their children.Parents agree to "cruise" with their children and see for themselves what attracts kids to cruising and how their children behave with their peers. The evening also affords the parents the opportunity to talk to their children and spend a fun evening as family.

Graffiti Eradication Project:

The Rapid City Police Department continued its successful program to eliminate gang graffiti from the city. Police Department employees and other City Department staff began painting out gang signs from the exteriors of buildings in the downtown area.This program is an effort to combat any visible presence of gangs in the City. Senior Officer Jim Hansen coordinates the program.

The Police Department and the Pennington County Sheriff's Office feel strongly about the presence of gang graffiti in the community and intend to address the problem through both law enforcement and community resources. Many local city, state and private organizations contribute to the Graffiti Eradication Project through the donation of time, equipment, supplies and volunteers.

Law Enforcement Torch Run

Special Olympics:

Special Olympics is an international program of sports training and competition for children and adults with mental retardation.

Law enforcement's role in Special Olympics is raising funds to help the Special Olympians receive the financial help needed to participate in this international organization.

Events such as the Law Enforcement Torch Run, Cops and Lobsters, and Polar Plunge brings in thousands of dollars for Special Olympics annually.

All funds raised from the Law Enforcement Torch Run are kept in South Dakota and help the individuals within South Dakota.