SAN DIEGO -- “McGruff” the crime-fighting police dog, and Cpl. Christina Thuman, a military police officer with Marine Corps Air Station Miramar’s Provost Marshal’s Office, spoke to elementary students about drug awareness and general safety at Walker Elementary School Oct. 23.
McGruff and Thuman also visited the school on Oct. 19 and 21 as part of Red Ribbon Week which promotes drug awareness.
“It gets the message across without using scare tactics,” said Liz Barnes, the school liaison.
McGruff and Thuman greeted students and passed out pencils and stickers as they walked through the gate. McGruff also gave the students hugs and high-fives.
Students moved into the library to participate in a drug-versus-candy activity. The students examined a display with 18 different unknown substances, and guessed whether the substance was a drug or candy.
“It’s a good message -- especially now,” said Thuman. “There are drugs everywhere and kids need to grow up with more awareness of them.”
After the students finished with the activity, Thuman and McGruff finished the day discussing “stranger danger” and Halloween safety.
“It was fun,” said Morgan Green, a nine-year-old student at Walker Elementary School. “I learned not to take drugs.”
Thuman passed out candy as students left the library with a better understanding of dangers they may face.
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