Law Enforcement Officers Visit Campuses for Red Ribbon Week

by Ronnie Zamora/LFCISD

To help raise awareness of the dangers of illegal drugs, several law enforcement personnel visited Los Fresnos CISD schools for Red Ribbon Week.

Among those visiting schools were groups from the Department of Public Safety and Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz.

At Lopez-Riggins Elementary, DPS Corporal Derrick Hinojosa and troopers Randy Salinas and Veronica Casas told students about the story of Enrique Camarena, a DEA agent who was killed in the line of duty in Mexico in 1985.

Since then, communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America. In 1988, the National Family Partnership sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration.

DPS Trooper Salinas introduced the students to Trooper Hamilton, a drug-sniffing dog. The students enjoyed watching the demonstration about how Hamilton is able to find illegal drugs.

At all locations, the speakers told students about the dangers of drugs and responding “Just Say No” if approached by someone offering drugs.

Presidential First Lady Nancy Reagan launched the “Just Say No” campaign in the 1980s to encourage children to reject experimenting with or using drugs by simply saying the word “no.”