Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: November 16, 2006

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Great American Smoke Out

Take The Smoke Out Of Crime!!!!
Great American Smoke-Out
Media Sharp Kick-Off Event

The Extra Mile Region VII, Inc. in partnership with the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living, Shreveport Police Community Oriented Police Department will present the “Great American Smoke Out” Challenge and Media Sharp Campaign at Werner Park Elementary School.

Kick off is scheduled for November 16th the day of the Great American Smoke-Out at the outdoor pavilion 2715 Corbit Street at the school bus drop off zone. The time for this event is 0900-1100 hrs.  This day all uniform services especially law enforcement officers will be encouraged by students to “Take the Smoke out of Crime.”  During this day officers who are smokers will be provided with substitutes to help them kick the habit.  This will include snacks, stress relief items, treats, free massages and much more.

This event will also be the start Media Sharp Campaign.
 Media Sharp is an important tool for helping young people make healthy, life-affirming choices about tobacco and alcohol. The purpose of Media Sharp is to help young people critically assess how media normalize, glamorize, and create role models for unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors. This program increases the ability of students to "read" and produce media messages.  Students in this program will participate in a poster contest that will celebrate positive imaging of youth in healthy lifestyles and behaviors. The Deadline for posters will be December 4th.  The winner will be announced on December 11th.  The winning Poster will be distributed as a New Years Postcard to promote a Healthy New Year. Eighty Werner Park Students will participate in the Media Sharp Campaign. In addition to the New Year’s Postcard the student will produce a “Stop Smoking Video”.

For additional information contact:  Marianne Beaty 673-7359 Shreveport Police Community Oriented Policing or Vickie Marshall at The Extra Mile Region, VII 676-5801.

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View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews