NEW D.A.R.E. OFFICER LONGS TO TEACH

Port Huron Officer Taking Over School Anti-Drug Program

When Steve Harrington was growing up, he either wanted to be a teacher or a
police officer.

Harrington, 25, chose police work.

Now, as Port Huron's newest in-school Drug Abuse Resistance Education
officer, he'll get to live out his other career dream.

"This fills the void," he said. "I like to teach. It's one of my interests."

Harrington will teach his first D.A.R.E. class Jan. 24. He takes over for
Officer Karen Brisby, who is returning to road patrol after three years as
a D.A.R.E. officer.

The D.A.R.E. program has officers go into area elementary schools and teach
fifth-graders about drugs, alcohol and making decisions, such as saying no
to peer pressure.

"It's a good program," Harrington said. "I enjoy it a lot, and it amazes me
how much these kids know."

Brandyn Petty, 10, just completed the program with his class at Port
Huron's Roosevelt Elementary School.

"I like everything about it," he said. "It's taught me to resist drugs."

Petty said he'll miss Brisby but said Harrington will do well.

"I think he's going to do really good," he said. "He's been learning from
Officer Brisby and has been in a bunch of classrooms."

Brisby said while she'll miss working with the students, the job will help
her when she goes back on the road in mid-January.

"It's kind of sad," she said. "There are so many relationships I've built
being in community service. I can take that with me back on the road."

Jade Rhone, 10, another Roosevelt fifth-grader, enjoyed having Brisby in
her classroom every week.

"I like that she was able to take time out of her day to talk to us about
drugs and smoking," she said. "I like that she taught us about everything
and answered all our questions."

In October, the police department's other highly visible position got a new
face, too. Officer Chris Frazier became the department's community-service
officer, taking over for Officer Marcy Kuehn, who returned to road patrol.

Both the D.A.R.E. and community-service positions are rotated about every
three years.

A CLOSER LOOK

STEVE HARRINGTON, 25

# *RESIDENCE:* Harrison Township in Macomb County. # *EDUCATION:* Graduate
of Port Huron Northern; bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Ferris
State University in Big Rapids. # *OCCUPATION*: Port Huron Police officer
assigned to D.A.R.E. program. Previously, he was on road patrol for 31/2
years. He also worked as a cadet for two years and was part of the
department's Explorer Post in high school. # *FAMILY:* Wife, Michelle;
daughter, Katie, 6 weeks old.