During the summer of 2003, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department began exploring options to replace the D.A.R.E. curriculum, which had been in existence since 1983 and was being taught by deputy sheriffs in elementary schools throughout Fresno County.  After contacting numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the State of California, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department selected the Elementary School Safety Program, known by the acronym E.S.S.P.  The Elementary School Safety Program was developed by the San Diego Police Department and being presented to 95,000 students in 183 elementary schools in the City of San Diego. 

Unlike the D.A.R.E. curriculum, which targets 5^th & 6^th grade students and is only taught by sworn police officers, the E.S.S.P. curriculum is directed at grades kindergarten thru 5^th, and can be taught by both sworn personnel and community service officers.   E.S.S.P. is a comprehensive school safety program designed to provide instruction to elementary school students on a variety of life skills.  The E.S.S.P. curriculum is presented to students using a wide range of teaching strategies such as lectures, question & answer, group discussions, role-playing and audio visual materials. 

The E.S.S.P. curriculum in grades kindergarten thru 4^th grades consists of three core lessons dealing with medication safety, pedestrian & wheel safety and preventing alcohol & tobacco use.

The E.S.S.P. curriculum in the 5^th grade consists of five core lessons involving conflict resolution, gang awareness, juvenile law, drug awareness & treating people fairly.  In addition to the five core lessons, the 5^th grade curriculum also has a choice of three electives from a menu of courses dealing with internet safety, wheel safety, firearm safety, problem solving, pedestrian safety & media influences. 

As we entered the 2004/2005 school year, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department was providing instruction in the E.S.S.P. curriculum to over 3,800 students at 49 elementary schools throughout Fresno County.  To date, 46 deputies & 12 community service officers have received forty hours of training in teaching the E.S.S.P. curriculum.