LCSO MOVES FUNDS AROUND TO PRESERVE THE DARE PROGRAM

Tighter Budget Forces Cuts

Although its future was uncertain, the Lee County Sheriff's Office
announced Tuesday that Sheriff Mike Scott and top administrators
managed to reshuffle funds in order to preserve the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education program.

Damaging economic factors such as the foreclosure crisis and decreased
state revenue forced the sheriff's office to make difficult decisions
on which programs needed to be cut.

DARE was originally on the chopping block, but the sheriff's office
managed to consolidate some programs and raise the funding needed.

"We believe it is very important to everyone that these anti-drug
lessons continue to be taught to impressionable children in the
community," said Scott. "It allows students the chance to establish a
positive relationship with law enforcement at a young age and
hopefully lead them to make wise choices in the future."

DARE has been a staple program shared between the sheriff's office and
the Lee County School District for the last 16 years until the county
cut almost all of its funding for the 2008 to 2009 fiscal year.

"The proposed budget was $539,000 and the county had cut $500,000 out.
That is what put it on the potential cutting block," said Sgt. Larry
King, spokesperson for the sheriff's office. "Now with restructuring
and reallocation the sheriff has been able to salvage it."

The restructuring consisted of a series of buyouts and early
retirements, explained King, as well as the consolidation of other
programs.

"With the attrition and not replacing some positions such as high
ranking captain and other positions, they were able to do it," he said.

According to the sheriff's office, the program reaches more than 3,000
fifth-graders in 25 schools across Lee County. The program lasts 10
weeks and teaches students about making responsible decisions
regarding drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

The program originally started in Los Angeles in 1983 and subsequently
spread across the United States and all over the world.

King said four DARE officers cycle through the various elementary
schools, but the program will scale back one deputy.

The prevention program continues to be recognized by the school
district. Just last week, the Lee County School Board recognized two
2008 Florida DARE Educators of the Year, Bob Scoppettuolo and Christy
Moore.