ALPENA FINALLY RECEIVES DARE CAR

After 17 years of Drug Abuse Resistance Education, Alpena finally has an
official DARE car.

Officer Tim Marquardt revealed the striking vehicle for the first time,
Friday, behind the Alpena Public Safety Facility.

"We haven't had that DARE car you may have all heard about," Marquardt said.

The 1997 Chevy S-10 Blazer was purchased by five area credit unions and
donated to the program. Several area residents and businesses also
volunteered time, money and services to transform the former red vehicle
into what it is today.

DARE began in California in 1983 but was brought to northeast Michigan in
1989 by Marquardt's father, Alpena County Deputy James Marquardt. The
family DARE duo marks only the second time in Michigan history both a
father and son served as DARE officers.

The Alpena program is now the largest and longest running program in the
region, but it has never had a police vehicle to help advertise the
community's support for the program and its youth.

"I'm excited this has become a reality, and we can put it to rest,"
Marquardt said.

Marquardt said he met with area credit unions in January 2005 to see if
they would be able to help acquire the vehicle. City Council approval for
the project came in May 2005, and subsequent volunteer efforts brought to
fruition the final product revealed Friday.

Although the vehicle is outfitted with much of the same equipment found in
standard patrol cars and is considered a police vehicle, the primary
purpose is a focus on community service.

The car will be seen at events such as Friday Night Downtown Alpena,
Michigan Brown Trout Festival, child safety/fingerprinting weekends,
parades, and other youth oriented events. The car also will visit 11 area
schools during DARE education.

"We often got calls from concerned parents, because a police car would be
parked outside a school," Marquardt said.

He said the distinct vehicle will better explain why law enforcement may be
at school and also will free up another vehicle for uniformed officers. He
said there have been times when it would have been more convenient to have
another vehicle.

The credit unions that purchased the vehicle are Thunder Bay Area,
Alpena/Alcona Area, Besser, Alpena Community and HPC. Those donating time
and services were Yuker Custom Painting, Lafarge, Auto Trim Design,
Jerome's Towing, McDonald Auto Supply, Cliff Anschuetz Chevrolet and
Cadillac, Inc., David Shoemaker, Alpena Glass Company, State Electronics,
Alpena Co. 911, Garant's Office Supply, Downtown Union 76, The Custom Shop,
AJ's Auto, D& M Collision, Triple M Tire and the Alpena Fire Department.

"It's a good thing for the kids. They will be able to come up and look at
the car, and maybe it will make a difference in their lives," said Lt.
Brian Caldwell of the Alpena Fire Department, which donated the emergency
lights.

Marquardt said the sponsors were listed on the back of the vehicle so they
would be seen more often. He said, if they were on the side, they would
just be a flash going by people. On the back, he said people driving cars
behind him would be able to read the names of the supporters.

"It's a rolling beacon that says 'this is important, take a look'," he said.