Officer Joshua Graham of the Bristol Police Department, center, received the Tennessee Instructor of the Year Award during Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence’s 21st Century Drug & Violence Prevention Training Conference. Officer Graham 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. — Officer Joshua Graham of the Bristol Police Department has been recognized as Tennessee Instructor of the Year by L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence, a national nonprofit dedicated to drug and violence prevention education.
Officer Graham received the award during L.E.A.D.’s 21st Century Drug & Violence Prevention Training Conference held in early June in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The annual award recognizes instructors who demonstrate exceptional commitment to delivering L.E.A.D.’s evidence-based prevention curriculum while building meaningful relationships with students in their communities.
“I was very honored to receive the Tennessee L.E.A.D. Instructor of the Year Award. It means a lot to be recognized for something I believe in,” said Officer Graham. “Being involved with L.E.A.D. gives me the chance to build relationships with students while also teaching them things that can help them make safe and responsible choices. I enjoy getting to know the kids, hearing what they have to say, and seeing them get more comfortable participating as we go through the program.”
Officer Graham serves as a School Resource Officer at Avoca Elementary School in Bristol, where he delivers L.E.A.D.’s prevention curriculum and works directly with students in a school-based environment focused on safety, trust, and positive development.
“I have to give a lot of credit to the staff at Avoca Elementary. They’ve been very supportive from the beginning,” said Officer Graham. “They allow me to come into their classrooms and use their instructional time, and they help with the students while I’m teaching. That makes my job a lot easier and allows me to focus on the lesson and the kids. I’m grateful for the recognition, but I’m even more grateful for the opportunity to work with these students and hopefully make a positive difference in their lives.”
Officer Graham has served with the Bristol Police Department since 2003 and spent more than a decade on night shift assignments before transitioning into the department’s Support Services Division and later school-based policing.
The city noted that Officer Graham completed specialized training through the National Association of School Resource Officers and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and recently began his second year serving as a School Resource Officer.
L.E.A.D. trains law enforcement officers to deliver evidence-based drug and violence prevention education in schools and community settings. The program focuses on helping students develop decision-making, communication, and conflict-resolution skills while strengthening positive relationships between youth and law enforcement.
L.E.A.D. leadership recognized Officer Graham for his role in supporting prevention education and fostering a safe and supportive learning environment for students at Avoca Elementary School.
“Officer Graham exemplifies the dedication and impact we see from outstanding L.E.A.D. instructors across the country,” said L.E.A.D. Executive Director and CEO Nick DeMauro. “His commitment to youth engagement and prevention education reflects the core mission of our program.”
About L.E.A.D.
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. L.E.A.D. serves all 50 states, supporting more than 7,000 trained instructors who reach more than one million students in 2,500 school systems annually through the Botvin LifeSkills® Training curriculum. L.E.A.D. is funded through donations and grants. For more information, visit LEADrugs.org or call 609.259.2500.
Officer Joshua Graham, center, of the Bristol Police Department accepted the Tennessee Instructor of the Year Award at the 2026 L.E.A.D. national training conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Officer Graham received the award from 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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