DEPUTY TOUTS SUCCESS OF D.A.R.E

Lucas County sheriff's Deputy Brett Warner has heard the criticism: Drug
prevention programs don't work.

He knows some police departments have dropped the Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program from their budget.

But the longtime D.A.R.E. officer isn't swayed by the critics and is
skeptical of studies claiming prevention programs don't get through to
their intended audience. Instead, he wonders how many more people would be
in jail if not for prevention programs.

"I really believe in D.A.R.E., and not in just D.A.R.E., but in prevention
in general," said Deputy Warner, 37, who was recently elected president of
D.A.R.E. Ohio. "I don't think we want to risk getting rid of prevention
programs just to see if they were working."

Since 1997 when he became a certified D.A.R.E. officer, Deputy Warner has
dedicated his law enforcement career to keeping kids away from drugs and
violence. He's in the classrooms at 20 schools and spends most of his
summer jumping from festivals to fairs.

He helps bring the anti-drug message to parent groups, Cub Scout packs, and
home school coalitions. And now, armed with the New D.A.R.E. program,
Deputy Warner is doing it in a more hands-on way.

Created in Los Angeles in 1983, the program has gone through a
modernization effort where lectures behind a podium have been replaced by
role-playing, mock courtroom exercises, and Web sites. This gives the
deputy a chance to interact more with the students in elementary, middle,
and high schools.

Born and reared in Whitehouse, he attended Anthony Wayne Local Schools.
Deputy Warner began his police career in Waterville Township after spending
time as a member of the security team in the U.S. Air Force. It was in
Waterville Township that he became a D.A.R.E. officer and began entering
the schools.

His first assignment was his alma mater, where he worked with students for
five years.

Deputy Warner joined the sheriff's office in 2002.

"I'm working my dream job," said the father of three. "I love kids. I think
it's important that kids are given as many tools to go out into the world
as they can."

But while 500 officers across the state are actively involved in helping to
spread the message of prevention, the program has been criticized. Some
police departments, including Toledo, have dropped the program.

Still, Deputy Warner said the majority of law enforcement agencies and
school districts - including those in Perrysburg, Maumee, Sylvania,
Sylvania Township, and Oregon - believe in the program and continue to
support it.

Sheriff Telb said his department supports the program simply because it
"works."

"We've been doing it for over 10 years, and the kids know us growing up,
they thank us for doing this program," the sheriff said. "The D.A.R.E.
program is good; the D.A.R.E. officer makes it work."