I am the founder, Chairman of the Board, President, and instructor for the organization. Many of you remember me as Officer Graham or Officer Jeff from the Perrysburg Police Division. I served as a Perrysburg Police Officer for almost 12 years, with 10 of those years teaching in the schools and in the community. I brought many safety programs to Perrysburg while serving as a Perrysburg Police Officer. Some of the programs that I was most proud of was Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs and R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense). I also expanded the D.A.R.E. Program into more grades than it had ever been before. I loved every moment of my days teaching in the schools and community.
Unfortunately the Perrysburg Police Division went through some changes in my last few years working there and I saw most of the programs I loved come to an end. Due to budget and manpower issues Chief Gilts had to make the difficult decision to cut the safety programs. Along with these changes within the police division, Chief Gilts removed from the safety programs and put back on patrol duties. I liked being a police officer but loved teaching. For this reason I started the Citizens of Perrysburg Safety Education. The organization allowed me to keep teaching in the schools. During my first year teaching for the organization I was on midnight shift at the police division. I would get off shift at 7:00 am and teach until 2 or 3:00 pm. I would sleep when I could, but my health began to become affected. My second year was much better because I had resigned from the police division to expand the organization and programs. Thanks to the schools and parents I have been able to do just that.
In the first two years I have been able to bring back Halloween Safety in first grade, Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs in forth grade, C.O.P.S. Education in 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade. Along with these programs I conduct safety classes in whatever grade and school that requests it. I have conducted classes about stranger danger, home alone, 911, what to do if you get lost, and bullying. I also assisted the junior high school by attending 6th grade camp, which became my 23rd and 24th week of camp since 1997. Currently I am trying to bring back R.A.D. (Rape Aggresseion Defense) but will need to work with the City of Perrysburg to accomplish this due to the equipment needed to conduct the classes. I was able to obtain a grant to purchase the equipement while working for Perrysburg Police Division. If I can't use this equipment we will need to re-purchase the needed equipment. It is a great program, though, that I would love to implement in the schools (especially for our college bound ladies). I am also talking to St. Rose and will be speaking to the public school system about implementing a new program called Life Skills Training.
I truely believe that these programs are as important as science and math in our children's lives. I also believe that all of these programs are beneficial and essential in keeping our kids safe, no matter what the critics say. Since I founded the program in 2006 I have taught more than 3500 students safety programs, attended many social functions, participated in school events, had many lunches in the school, assisted the schools with disciplinary issues, and attended 6th grade camp. These are all things that I believe in and will continue to do as long as I can. I do this because I want too, after all, I have four children of my own in Perrysburg Schools and they deserve everything I can provide them. Hopefully we can all do this together. Please check out the "how you can help" section of this website to see how you can be a part of these efforts. Thank you for all of your support and feel free to contact me if you have any question or want to help. My number is 419-654-0944 and I can be reached 24 hours a day/seven days a week.