DARE TO HELP

Bridgeview Police Officer Aims To Teach Kids

During his first four years as a patrolman for the Bridgeview Police
Department, Sam Haleem has always taken special interest in working with
young people.

Now in his new role as Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer for the
department, Haleem, 26, hopes he will be able to change young people's fear
of police into a healthy respect.

Southtowners

"I never took this job for people to be scared of me," Haleem said. "It's
important to change the perceptions of police officers."

As the DARE officer, Haleem will teach all the sixth-graders in Indian
Springs School District 109 about staying away from drugs and about other
safety issues.

But beyond that, Haleem also plans to spend as much time as possible simply
talking to students of all ages in hopes of being a positive role model for
them.

Haleem, who grew up in Palos Hills and graduated from Stagg High School,
lives in Bridgeview with his wife, Sana, who is expecting the couple's
first child.

He said he joined the police department a little more than four years ago
because he likes the challenge of never knowing what he might be called on
to do.

But one area where he has always focused attention is dealing with
youngsters, which is why he decided becoming the DARE officer would be a
good opportunity for him to make a difference.

"I'd rather deal with them on a help basis than because I got called
there," Haleem said. "You've got to teach people at a young age the right
things to do."

Haleem gives credit to his parents, Ray and Hayat Haleem of Palos Hills,
for making him the type of person he has turned out to be. Growing up, he
said, his parents taught him the importance of showing respect to his
elders and to people in authority.

As part of his job as the DARE officer, Haleem said he hopes he will be
able to teach youngsters how to be respectful.

Haleem will begin teaching the sixth-grade DARE classes during the week of
Jan. 10, but he already has started to do some activities with the schools.

Bridgeview's Police Department has started to devote a number of resources
to interact with the schools more, including adding a new truck for the
DARE officer and appointing a sergeant to act as the liaison to the school
district, Haleem said.

Haleem said he is excited about the department's new enthusiasm to work
with the young people in town.

"Kids are more impressionable. If you treat them like a young adult,
they'll be more likely to act like one," he said.