DARE PROGRAM SHOULDN'T BE SACRIFICED

As first a mother and second a resident of Waukesha County, I am
appalled at Sheriff William Kruziki's decision to "prioritize his
manpower" and discontinue the DARE program at Oconomowoc elementary
schools for "purely financial reasons" ("Oconomowoc to lose DARE,"
June 15).

Drug Abuse Resistance Education provides the extra support parents
need to guide their children to a safe and healthy life and to make
the right choices. Our kids are exposed to many pressures at such an
early age. We need to reach them before they are faced with these pressures.

Parents can talk until they are blue in the face about what is right
and wrong. Having a police officer come to the school and give that
extra encouragement and training to these impressionable kids does
make a difference. It creates a positive relationship between the kids
and law enforcement.

A compelling message is given to our children: They matter; they
matter to the whole community; the choices they make in the next few
years are significant in the development of their future and success
as well as our future and safety as a community.

My son just graduated from the DARE program at Dousman Elementary in
the Kettle Moraine School District. I attended the graduation. I was
utterly impressed by the deputy's attitude and enthusiasm with the
kids and how they responded. My daughter will be starting kindergarten
this fall. I will be disheartened if she does not experience this
program because of "purely financial reasons."

Parental involvement is a must. Community involvement is a must - and
not just by teachers, neighbors and business leaders, but also by law
enforcement. Only through early intervention can we inspire our kids -
our future - with a set of values that will shelter them from the
curiosity of drugs and the ability to escape the despair of drug addiction.

If efforts aren't made to stop drug use before it starts, Kruziki will
need more money to hire more officers to deal with these kids.

To make money an issue when it comes to our children is just
sickening. Why not make the effort now instead of dealing with the
consequences later?

Tammy Hofstede
Dousman