POLICE DARE TO DRIVE THIS IMPALA

Officers Hope Car Will Draw Attention To Dangers Of Drugs

NORTH BRUNSWICK - The crazy-colored car with flashy rims and spiffy
spoiler cruising down township streets isn't just another hot rod. It
belongs to the police.

North Brunswick Township Police (NBTP) recently revitalized an old
police cruiser into a conversation piece with the flamboyant amenities
to provoke more talk among younger residents about DARE, a drug- and
alcohol-resistance education program, according to Juvenile Detective
Kenneth Bongiovanni. The new vehicle, Bongiovanni said, will allow him
to reach more young adults in and outside of the community.

The North Brunswick Police Department will use this cruiser as a means
of educating students about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.

"The car will be put on display at township schools, community events
and local car shows to get more people engaged in a conversation about
drug- and alcohol-resistance education," Bongiovanni said.

Bongiovanni, who has worked for the township police department since
1987, currently works in township schools as a resource officer. He
has run the DARE program since 1995.

Designed by Bongiovanni with the help of Graphic Installations in
Florida, the 2001 Chevy Impala is adorned with a full vinyl cover of
graphics. The pictures include DARE mascot Darren the Lion, a NBTP
badge on the driver's side, and a wrecking ball breaking through
bricks on the hood.

"The wrecking ball is called the abuse buster that breaks the barrier
between education and drug abuse, signifying what the DARE program
actually is," Bongiovanni said.

The department decided to use a "tooner theme" on the car consisting
of the colored graphics, 19-inch Volt rims, and the wing in the back
to "grab the most attention," Bongiovanni said.

"It's a lot more effective to have a car like this, than a police
cruiser that simply says DARE across the hood," Bongiovanni said.

He began the DARE vehicle project about six months ago, Bongiovanni
said.

"Most of the surrounding municipalities have DARE vehicles, so when
the opportunity arose to use an old administrator's cruiser for the
project, I took it," Bongiovanni said.

"The artwork was paid for with donations from residents, local
businesses and the township's Municipal Alliance," Bongiovanni said.

Although he did not know the cost of the additional amenities,
Bongiovanni said, "Any amount of money spent to prevent substance
abuse is worth it."

Currently DARE is taught in 10 lessons during health class in Linwood
Middle School at the sixth-grade level.

"The DARE program deals with the skills necessary to resist drugs and
alcohol," Bongiovanni said. "I teach students about peer pressure,
ways to say no, and about the causes of and problems that arise out of
drug abuse."

When asked if he thinks DARE remains effective in deterring substance
abuse among students, Bongiovanni said, "With a prevention program,
you never know how many kids you helped, because there isn't any
paperwork kept on how many kids that would have used drugs."

Bongiovanni said student, parent and school official feedback is
important to him.

"Positive feedback is the only gauge we have and we hope this new car
will spark more of it," Bongiovanni said.

The most important aspect of DARE, Bongiovanni said "is getting police
officers involved with children at a young age.

"Students less afraid and more open with officers will generally have
less of a hard time going to other authority figures for assistance
and guidance in their lives," Bongiovanni said.