Cpl. Maureen McBride, of the Howell Township Police Department, center, received the New Jersey Instructor of the Year Award during Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence’s 21st Century Drug & Violence Prevention Training Conference. Cpl. McBride stood with L.E.A.D. Board Chairman Kevin Haney, left, and L.E.A.D. Executive Director/ CEO Nick DeMauro, right. (Photo Courtesy L.E.A.D.)
ALLENTOWN, N.J. — Capping off a distinguished career in law enforcement, Cpl. Maureen McBride of the Howell Township Police Department has been recognized as New Jersey Instructor of the Year by L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence), a leading national nonprofit dedicated to drug and violence prevention education.
Cpl. McBride received the honor during L.E.A.D.’s 21st Century Drug & Violence Prevention Training Conference, held in early June at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City. The annual award recognizes instructors who demonstrate exceptional commitment to delivering L.E.A.D.’s evidence-based drug and violence prevention curriculum while building meaningful relationships with students in their communities.
Cpl. McBride recently retired from the Howell Township Police Department after nearly 30 years in law enforcement, including the majority of career as a school resource officer, allowing her to teach the L.E.A.D. curriculum to students in the Howell Township K-8 School District. Throughout her career, she became known for her commitment to community policing and for helping young people develop the skills and confidence to make healthy, responsible decisions.
The Howell Township Police Department praised Cpl. McBride following the award announcement, noting her “unwavering dedication, passion, and commitment to the youth of our community,” and highlighting the energy and genuine care she brought into the classroom.
Her impact on students was also recognized recently by the Howell Township K-8 School District, which honored McBride during a middle school graduation ceremony shortly before her retirement, thanking her for her years of service to the district’s students and staff.
L.E.A.D. is one of the nation’s largest school-based drug and violence prevention programs, with specially trained law enforcement officers, educators and community professionals delivering age-appropriate lessons that help students develop communication, decision-making and conflict resolution skills. The research-based curriculum addresses topics including substance abuse prevention, bullying, violence prevention and responsible decision-making, while fostering positive relationships between young people and law enforcement.
“Cpl. McBride exemplified the commitment and compassion that make great L.E.A.D. instructors,” said L.E.A.D. Executive Director and CEO Nick DeMauro. “She built meaningful relationships with students while delivering important lessons that help young people make positive choices. We congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for her outstanding service to the youth of New Jersey throughout her career.”
About L.E.A.D. — Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence
L.E.A.D. — Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence — is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Allentown, N.J., dedicated to equipping law enforcement agencies with the resources, training, and curriculum to deliver effective drug and violence prevention education in schools and communities. Since its founding in 2015, L.E.A.D. has partnered with agencies nationwide, supporting more than 7,000 trained instructors who have reached more than one million students in more than 2,500 school systems. L.E.A.D. delivers prevention on the street and in the classroom through its Community Prevention Officer initiative and the Botvin LifeSkills® Training curriculum, the gold standard in evidence-based prevention education. L.E.A.D. is funded through donations and grants that support the organization’s national program and infrastructure, sustaining this work across every community it serves. For more information, visit LEADrugs.org or call 609-259-2500.
Cpl. Maureen McBride, of the Howell Township Police Department, right, accepted the New Jersey Instructor of the Year Award at the 2026 L.E.A.D. national training conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Cpl. McBride received the award from L.E.A.D. Board Chairman Kevin Haney, left, and L.E.A.D. Executive Director/ CEO Nick DeMauro, center. (Photo Courtesy L.E.A.D.)
Cpl. Maureen McBride, of the Howell Township Police Department, center, posed with her New Jersey Instructor of the Year Award during L.E.A.D.’s 21st Century Drug & Violence Prevention Training Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Cpl. McBride stood with L.E.A.D. Board Chairman Kevin Haney, left, and L.E.A.D. Executive Director/ CEO Nick DeMauro, right. (Photo Courtesy L.E.A.D.)
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