FALCON TALKS ABOUT MAKING GOOD DECISIONS

BENTONVILLE -- People must make decisions every day about what they do
and who they spend time with, Joe Falcon told students Friday at
Spring Hill Middle School.

Falcon is a corporal with the Bentonville Police Department and a
Bentonville Board of Education member. He shared perspectives from
both entities about how important it is to keep students away from
drugs. His talk closed a week of drug awareness throughout the country
called Red Ribbon Week.

" Every day you have to make choices about who you're with, " Falcon
said of spending time with people who might do drugs or drink alcohol.
" Don't put yourself in a situation where you suffer repercussions for
their poor choices. "

Falcon talked about the importance of policies the School Board has in
place to prevent drug and alcohol use in the schools.

" We don't do it to punish you. We do it to encourage you and give
guidelines that tell you what you can and can't do, " he said.

He also talked about his experiences in law enforcement, including
several recent drug or alcohol-related arrests.

" There's not a day goes by that we don't deal with drugs or alcohol,
" he said.