First Sergeant Chris Fisher of the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Department has attained the National Crime Prevention Council’s highest rank, Level Two.
Alleghany County Sheriff Kevin Hall, president of the Virginia Sheriff’s Assoc., appointed Fisher as head of the D.A.R.E. and the Crime Prevention Program in 2010, and by 2014, Fisher had earned 500 points which qualified him to become certified as a crime prevention specialist in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Fisher remarked, “In 2014, I became certified as a crime prevention specialist on the state level.”
He continued, “In 2015, I really started working to become certified as a crime prevention specialist on the national level.”
Hall recalled, “When I put Chris in charge of the D.A.R.E. and the Crime Prevention in 2010, we revamped the entire program.”
Despite the interruption of training classes brought about by COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, Fisher managed to surpass the 1,000 point mark required to become certified on the national level. He currently has earned nearly 1,400 points.
The certificate Fisher received is signed by Joel Dhein, president of the National Crime Prevention Council, and by Paul Del Ponte, the Council’s executive director.
It was Hall who facilitated the opportunities for Fisher to attend classes at Natural Bridge, Lynchburg, Chesterfield and other areas of Virginia.
“Chris trained in person and online in addition, and he traveled across the state to take classes,” Hall remembered.
The crime prevention program in Alleghany County features the Youth Day Bike Rodeo which is held annually on the first Sat. in May at the Jackson River Sports Complex in Covington.
The program, which was interrupted by COVID-19 from 2020 through 2021, helps establish a good rapport with youth as does the D.A.R.E. program that Fisher conducts at Mountain View Elementary School, Sharon Elementary School and the Clifton Middle School.
Deputy Ricky Bates heads up the D.A.R.E. program at Callahan Elementary School.
Chris remarked, “We assist with the Clifton Forge and Covington police’s National Night Out which brings communities together.”
During the National Night Out, the police departments organize games, set up a dunking booth, and conduct other activities that support the theme of “Stand Against Crime.”
Fisher offered, “We go to Bible schools, luncheons, Cub Scout meetings, Boy Scout meeting and Girl Scout meetings as part of our crime prevention, and if anyone is planning an event and wants to learn about crime prevention, we are available to help.”
Another helpful aspect of the crime prevention program is Neighborhood Watch which a number of communities have adopted.
Hall observed, “Through the effort of Neighborhood Watch and other programs, we have established a good system of communication in communities throughout the Alleghany Highlands.”
Fisher concluded, “If you look at community policing, we’ve got the prescription-drug-take-back program as well.”
Benjamin Franklin perhaps said it best, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
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