Students at New Windsor Elementary School were captivated by a police drone flying overhead Friday, Oct. 30, as officers demonstrated how the technology helps them search for missing people and respond to emergencies.

The drone was among several demonstrations during a visit by the New Windsor Police Department as part of Red Ribbon Week, an annual national drug-prevention campaign held in October. Students also met a police dog, explored a patrol vehicle and learned about drug prevention, online safety, firearms and when to call 911.

The visit combined lessons on recognizing dangerous situations with an effort to build trust between children and police officers, so students would know where to turn for help before facing an emergency.

“Community trust is everything and starting from a young age, helps build that relationship,” Sgt. Hannah Ward said. “It’ll be super important to have the kids have a good image of us going in, so that when we do show up and it’s a scary incident that they’re dealing with, they’re not as afraid.”

Ward began the presentation by asking students what came to mind when they thought of police officers. She explained that officers often respond to frightening situations, including fires, car accidents and medical emergencies, but encouraged children not to be afraid to approach them for assistance.

She then turned to situations students might encounter themselves, including messages from strangers on popular online games.

When Ward asked how many students played Roblox, Minecraft or Fortnite, hands shot up. She then asked whether anyone had received messages from other players prompting them to respond with mostly no’s but also a number of yeses.

“Sometimes these people aren’t what they say they are,” Ward told the students. “They might say that they’re the same age as you but they might not be.”

She instructed the students to tell a trusted adult like a parent, teacher, school counselor or doctor, if someone they did not know contacted them through the games.

The discussion also covered unfamiliar pills, powders and liquids, as well as unattended firearms. Ward instructed students not to touch potentially dangerous items and to seek help from a parent, teacher or another trusted adult.

To reinforce those lessons, Ward tested students with scenarios requiring them to decide whether to tell an adult or call 911.

Students shouted their answers as she asked what they should do if a sibling were being mean, someone was injured in a car accident or they discovered a bag of pills on a playground.

Ward explained that while a disagreement with a sibling should be brought to an adult, an accident involving injuries warrants an emergency call. Finding unidentified pills meant notifying an adult or calling police if no adult was available.

Newburgh Enlarged City School District Superintendent Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell said introducing these lessons in elementary school helps children develop the confidence to speak up when something seems wrong.

“We want to make sure that we teach them advocacy and to use their voice,” Manning Campbell said. “It’s always important to ask questions, to give them alternate options and to let them know that every question is important and it’s never, ever wrong to ask trusted adults and if they feel like something is wrong, to believe their gut instinct.”

The police visit followed a week of school activities promoting drug prevention and positive behavior.

Second-grade teacher Kathleen Hand said the school marked Red Ribbon Week with a different theme each day, giving students opportunities to participate while reinforcing lessons about drug prevention and making good choices.

Students wore red Monday to show their support for the campaign, followed by crazy socks Tuesday and Halloween costumes such as the Hulk and Cat in the Hat on Wednesday. On Thursday, they wore their favorite sports jerseys to represent teaming up against drugs, while Friday’s theme encouraged students to wear neon colors.

Hand said teachers also discussed the week’s messages during their morning meetings, helping students connect the activities to decisions they make in everyday life.

The police visit added another dimension to those lessons. Hand said the visit surprised her students, who became excited when they spotted the officers and police dog outside their classroom.

After the safety presentation, students moved between stations to learn how officers use specialized equipment.

Sgt. Ross demonstrated the department’s drone, explaining how its camera can zoom in on distant objects and detect body heat using infrared technology.

The equipment allows police to search wooded areas for missing people, including at night, when a person’s body heat can stand out against cooler surroundings. The drone also has lights and a loudspeaker that officers can use during emergencies.

Students also met New Windsor Police Officer Gagliardo and his K-9 partner, Mack, a three-year-old German shepherd trained for patrol work and narcotics detection.

Gagliardo explained how Mack uses his sense of smell to locate objects and undergoes regular training to maintain his skills. Students also saw the specially equipped vehicle used to transport him and learned how the dog receives a toy as a reward for completing tasks.

At the patrol vehicle station, Officer Babcock showed students equipment officers carry during their shifts, including medical supplies and protective gear.

Ward said introducing children to police equipment also helps them understand how to behave when officers are working, such as not approaching a working police dog to pet it or interrupt an officer operating a drone during an active search.

The value of school visits extends beyond what students learn that day for Ward. She recalled meeting families during previous school visits who still recognized her years later, sometimes approaching her in the community to remind her where they had met.

“It’s very heartwarming to see that they remember and it had an impact,” Ward said.