TASK FORCE NEEDS TO FIND THE FACTS

Maybe what the members of the task force reviewing the county's involvement
in the controversial Drug Abuse Resistance Education program need to do
first is keep an open mind. Maybe they need to be willing to look at all
the evidence and follow the truth no matter where it leads.

"Almost everyone here said DARE alone doesn't prevent drug abuse," said
member Noel Adams. "So do we eliminate it? No, I don't think that's what
we're doing here."

But maybe it is. Not directly, certainly; actual elimination of the program
will be up to the County Board. But the task force could - and certainly
should - recommend that the county get out of the DARE business if the
evidence warrants such a conclusion.

National studies have raised questions about the effectiveness of the DARE
program. There is no study we're aware of that indicates it makes any
difference in keeping kids away from drugs.

If the county task force finds otherwise, then by all means the program
should be maintained. But if it does not, the question will be: Why spend
taxpayer money on a feel-good program that only serves as an employment
agency for government workers? Or has Waukesha County suddenly become a
haven for liberals?

Sheriff William Kruziki says DARE works, and he threatened last week to
keep teaching the program no matter what anyone else says, despite the fact
that the program is adding to an already hefty departmental overtime bill.

With whose money? His own? Or does he think that the department's public
funds are his to spend as he - and only he - sees fit? And does he believe
that the voters of Waukesha County would support such bureaucratic arrogance?

As for whether DARE works, the task force needs to hear evidence. And by
evidence we mean more than anecdotes and stories; we mean hard facts and
numbers. Kruziki may believe in his heart of hearts that DARE works. But
kids believe in their heart of hearts that Santa Claus exists; wishes
really aren't horses.

Any program that helps steer kids away from drugs deserves taxpayer support
and government encouragement. The task force's job is to determine whether
DARE is such a program - or just another emperor without clothes. To do
that job, task force members need to focus on the facts and to keep their
minds open to all possibilities, including - dare we say it? - the
elimination of DARE.

And speaking of King Kruziki . . .

A recent audit report raised serious questions about the management of the
Sheriff's Department's overtime budget, pointing out that the overtime cost
is on track to hit $1 million this year, up from $300,000 in 1993.

Kruziki, who said he had not seen the report when asked about it by a
reporter, nevertheless dismissed it as "frivolous" and "a waste of time"
because "these guys have no idea of the inner workings of law enforcement."
He added that no one is going to tell him how to prioritize the work of his
department.

Granted that Kruziki is the expert on law enforcement, but his comments
come suspiciously close to suggesting that no one has the right to question
him.

We're sure that's not what he meant; that what he really meant to say is he
welcomes the scrutiny of taxpayers who have a legitimate interest in making
sure their money is not being wasted and he is doing everything in his
power to make sure every penny is accounted for.

We just wish he'd be a little more clear about that next time.