Eatontown Police Officer Taught 2,500 Kids Dangers Of Drugs, Alcohol

EATONTOWN, NJ — Eatontown police officer Ryan Hennelly received a L.E.A.D. "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the drug awareness education company at its most recent conference in Orlando, Florida, held this summer.

L.E.A.D. stands for Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence and it is a nationwide nonprofit that educates American public school students about the dangers of drugs and violence.

Patrolman Hennelly teaches L.E.A.D. to Eatontown sixth graders at Margaret L. Vetter School. The '23/'24 school year was Ptl. Hennelly’s last time teaching the program, as he’s retiring and passing the torch to Ptl. Michael Sullivan.

In his time doing this, Hennelly taught an estimated 2,500 young people about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and violence.

He said his favorite part about being an instructor for the program has been getting to know each of the children on a personal level.

“Getting to build a relationship with all the students I’ve had the pleasure of educating and knowing that I’ve helped to make a difference in their lives is extremely rewarding," said Hennelly. "I know it's helped to create a better relationship between our police department and the community in Eatontown. The children I’ve instructed have made me feel like I’m a rock star and hero in their lives.”

“When I would come to the school to teach L.E.A.D., the students would always light up, making sure to give me a high five or a fist bump,” he added. “It’s an incredible feeling when kids that have graduated from the program remember me years later, approaching me to come and say hello when they see me out at a restaurant or a shopping mall. I’ve been given thank-you cards from students over the years, and I now have over 2,000 of them that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”

Hennelly also says the L.E.A.D. program inspired many of his students to become police officers, firefighters and EMTs.

Hennelly said he looks forward to seeing Patrolman Sullivan take over this fall in the new role for Eatontown children.

The L.E.A.D. curriculum is taught in Eatontown public schools and in schools throughout Monmouth County.