L.E.A.D. Kickoff at Renaissance
Montclair Police and Montclair Public Schools Partnership
Montclair Police Department/MontclairPublic Schools partnership remain strong as ever. Chief Conforti
(Montclair Chief of Police) and Dr. Ponds (Montclair Public Schools Superintendent) were on hand for
the kick-off of the Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D.) Program today at Renaissance Middle
School. The L.E.A.D. curriculum is a proven law-enforcement-focused anti-drug/alcohol, anti-violence
curriculum for K-12 students. It is currently being taught by more than 3000 trained instructors in 42
states. The 10-week program focuses on how the youth can make smart decisions without the
involvement of drugs or violence. The program will be taught to the districts 6th Graders, once a week,
for approximately 45 minutes. Montclair Police Department currently has six instructors that are
assigned to the Juvenile Aid Bureau, and Community Service Unit. The instructors for today were
Detective DePoe, Detective Sanders, Detective Rusiniak, and Patrolman Higgins. Detectives Cook and
Falaise were not instructing today, but will in t
he future. Lieutenant Williams commands the Juvenile Aid
Bureau, and the Community Service Unit. Detective Sanders also serves as the districts School Resource
Officer (SRO). Others present for today were Deputy Chief Young (MPD), Maria Francisco (Renaissance
Principal), and Rachel Dunn (6th Grade Social Studies Teacher).
“I would like to thank Dr. Ponds for the partnership with the Police Department to offer the L.E.A.D.
Program for the students of our community.” (Chief Conforti)