POLICE CHIEF HONORED FOR DARE WORK

Brooklyn Park Police Chief Wade Setter has received a national award for
his unwavering support of DARE, one of the nation's most well-known drug
abuse prevention programs.

"I'm very flattered by it," said Setter, who received the 2004 Drug Abuse
Resistance Education Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Award July 9 in
Nashville, Tenn.

The award came with a $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Agency for local DARE efforts.

This is the just the fifth time that DARE and the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Agency have issued the award, which recognizes superior contributions to
DARE. DEA Administrator Karen Tandy gave Setter the award at the DARE
National Law Enforcement Officers conference.

"I think it reflects well on our community and certainly our DARE program,"
Setter said.

Congressman Jim Ramstad recognized Setter for the award on the floor of the
U.S. House of Representatives July 20.

"Chief Setter is a tireless advocate for the DARE program in Brooklyn Park
and throughout Minnesota," Ramstad said on the House floor. "Since DARE
began in our state, Chief Setter has encouraged countless officers to
participate in the program."

Through DARE, local police go into schools and teach kids about staying off
of drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

For five months of the year, two Brooklyn Park police officers serve as
DARE officers. In 2004, they taught in nine elementary schools and taught
almost 1,000 kids.

Setter serves as a board member for both the DARE America Law Enforcement
Advisory Committee, a national group, and Minnesota DARE Inc.

DARE offers police officers a chance to give a clear message about alcohol
and drug abuse, Setter said.

"It's a great opportunity for local law enforcement to interact with young
people in our community," Setter said.

Ray Spack nominated setter for the award from the state Bureau of Criminal
Apprehension. Spack serves as the state DARE coordinator, and Mike Lien, a
regional representative of DARE America.

Setter has long supported DARE, but for the first time there is scientific
evidence that backs up the program's worth, he said.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, an East Coast public health think tank,
has contributed $15 million to fund a study of the effectiveness of DARE,
Setter said. Early results are showing that kids who complete DARE are less
apt to abuse drugs.

"I truly believe in DARE as a prevention tool," Setter said. "DARE has been
ridiculed over the past 10 years as not working. In fact, that's not true."