AN OFFICER WHO DARES TO BE GREAT

In the last seven years, more than 8,000 middle school students in Oak
Harbor have been subjected to Officer Steve Nordstrand's goofy sense of humor.

At the same time, the kids learned how to recognize and resist pressures to
use drugs and alcohol. Nordstrand took over as the DARE officer in 1998,
teaching the national Drug Abuse Resistance Education to sixth, seventh and
eighth graders.

Apparently, he's very good at it. He was recently selected as DARE Officer
of the Year for the state of Washington and received a solid wood plaque.

"Officer Nordstrand is not just committed to the DARE program, rather he is
committed to providing a positive influence and opportunities for the young
members of our community," Police Chief Steve Almon wrote in a letter
nominating Nordstrand.

Almon pointed out that Nordstrand became the DARE officer at a time when
community support waned for the program, but he was able to shore up
support by spreading the message to civic and community groups. He helped
establish Mothers for DARE and the police department's summertime Youth
Academy Classes.

He also is active on various school committees.

"Without question, his efforts have furthered the goals and ideals of the
DARE philosophy," Almon wrote, "empowering young people to make quality
choices in life."

For his part, Nordstrand believes that DARE makes a real difference.

"It's hard to measure a preventative program," he admits, but he's seen
many kids' attitudes change for the better after attending the DARE program.

One of the keys to the success of the program, he said, is that it's funded
by the community. The department pays for his position, but everything else
is raised in the community. Even the DARE-mobile was donated by the Whidbey
Island Volkswagen / Mazda dealership.

The biggest DARE fundraiser is donkey softball. Last weekend, the DARE team
took on the American Cancer Society. Nordstrand was proud to announce that
Team DARE won, 5 to 1.