Maui police officer named ‘Hawaiʻi Instructor of the Year’ by drug prevention nonprofit

Maui Police Department Officer Marvin Miles has been named “Hawaiʻi Instructor of the Year” by Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence (L.E.A.D.), a nationwide nonprofit that works with communities to help students understand the dangers of drugs and violence.

Miles received the award during L.E.A.D.’s 10th annual 21st Century Drug and Violence Prevention Training Conference, held in Atlantic City, N.J.

“His dedication to teaching students about the importance of drug and violence prevention in Maui is helping us to continue our mission of strengthening police-community relationships,” said L.E.A.D. CEO Nick DeMauro.

Miles teaches the L.E.A.D. curriculum to fourth and fifth graders at Waiheʻe, Puʻu Kukui and King Kamehameha III Elementary Schools, as well as Doris Todd Christian Academy. The 10-week program teaches students how to make informed, safe decisions and resist drugs and violence.

“Being able to see the kids smile and enjoy the lessons that we’re teaching them is what I find to be the most rewarding part about being a L.E.A.D. instructor,” Miles said.

Miles said that students eagerly anticipate visits from him and his team.

“I think they like seeing us when we dress up in our uniforms and come on campus,” he said. “They’re always happy to see us and always waving. They’re curious about what we’re doing on campus, and the children that we teach get excited to see us, which is a reward in itself.”

The curriculum emphasizes life skills and relationship building, he added.

“L.E.A.D. allows us to build a relationship with the kids and shows them that we’re their friends. They can always come and talk to us,” he said. “From the start, we focus on teaching them important life skills which will last a lifetime.”

The return of in-person instruction has also been welcomed by school staff.

“During the pandemic, programs stopped for almost three years, so it’s great to be back in the schools again,” Miles said.

Reflecting on the award, Miles said he was surprised.

“I didn’t know I was getting the award,” he said. “My sergeant, who teaches with me and received the award last year, played a video while I was away at the conference. All the kids from all the different schools were in it, thanking me. It was really special. It helps as it lets us know we’re doing the right thing.”

L.E.A.D. operates in 47 states, reaching over 500,000 students annually through 6,000 trained instructors.

L.E.A.D. is celebrating 10 years of success providing services “On The Street” and “In The Classroom,” bringing law enforcement and communities closer together. The “In The Classroom” program is taught by 6,000 trained instructors in 47 states, reaching more than 500,000 students in 2,500 school systems.

L.E.A.D. offers a proven-effective, law enforcement-focused curriculum for K–12 students in the US. The 10-week program educates youth on how to make smart decisions without the involvement of drugs or violence.