Milford Police Officer Honored As Nation's Best

MILFORD, CT — The Milford Police Department said it is proud to announce that Patrol Officer First Class Joanna Salati has been named the 2019-2020 D.A.R.E. America Officer of the year.

Salati was nominated for this award by the State of Connecticut D.A.R.E. Coordinator and was selected from a pool of applicants by a board of judges because of her service and dedication to this program, local officials said.

Salati is a 22-year veteran of the Milford Police Department and has been a D.A.R.E. Instructor for 15 years. She has been very active in her career with the Milford Police Department which is comprised of her serving as a member of the Bicycle Unit, Child Safety Seat Technician, Recruitment Team, Community Police Officer, detective in the Special Investigations Unit, Director of the Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association (NEOA), and currently as the scheduling officer.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Program is a Police Officer Led series of classes that give students the tools they need to lead drug and violence free lives.

The curriculum of the program has evolved over the years to include Internet Safety lessons, Bullying Prevention and Opioid Awareness. Milford Police D.A.R.E. Officers facilitate this program with our 5th grade students once a week for 10 weeks. Aside from the lessons within the curriculum, the D.A.R.E. Program allows officers to have positive interactions with our young students.