COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTION DARE PROGRAM SPENDING

Several Houston City Council members raised questions today about the
Police Department's Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, which costs
the city $4.1 million and ties up 63 police officers that council members
said could be on the street.

Councilman and mayoral candidate Chris Bell asked how much money could be
saved by eliminating the DARE program completely.

Police Chief C.O. Bradford, a supporter of the program, said it would save
about $400,000. The remaining money goes to salaries for officers who would
keep their jobs even if DARE was eliminated.

DARE, which puts uniformed police officers in schools to warn against drug
use, has been questioned both locally and nationally. Earlier this year a
National Academy of Sciences study showed DARE did not affect children's
drug use behavior or attitude about drugs, nor did it instill resistance to
peer pressure or boost self-esteem.

Bradford said only the negative study get attention and not those reports
showing DARE is successful.

"The program is working," he said, adding that it fosters community
relationships as well as discouraging drug use.

But several council members disagreed.

"You can continue to put forth its success, but what we can see is it's
called into question," Councilman Bruce Tatro said.

The council members said even though eliminating DARE or staffing it with
retirees instead of working officers might not help them find money in the
city budget for other projects, it would still free up officers to do other
work.

"It would put officers into other positions that would be beneficial,"
Councilwoman Annise Parker said.

The questions about DARE came at the police department's budget workshop.
Council members are searching for areas to cut the city budget to come up
with money to increase the number of Houston firefighters and give city
employees a raise.