WIND ADDS CHILL TO DARE-ING CAMPOUT

Policeman Raising Money for School Drug Program

PEKIN - With wind gusts above 50 mph Friday morning and forecasts of
snow flurries later in the day, Pekin police Officer Steve Fitzanko
did only what the most seasoned Boy Scout would do - he went camping.

Armed with a radio, books, a portable heater, a sleeping bag designed
to handle sub-zero temperatures and a tent that he was unable to set
up that morning, Fitzanko, 37, camped out on top of the Pekin's Wal-Mart.

A firetruck ladder hoisted him to the rooftop at 7 a.m. And come rain,
sleet or snow, Fitzanko said he is not coming down until 8 p.m. Sunday.

"(Saturday) I'll get the tent up," Fitzanko joked as he battled the
wind Friday in a futile attempt to set up his campsite. "(Friday
night) is all about survival."

Fitzanko's solo camping trip is more than just a crazy publicity stunt
in inclement weather. For the next two days, the Pekin Police
Department will be at Wal-Mart raising money for the city's Drug Abuse
Resistance Education program.

A 10-year veteran of the police department and its current DARE
officer, Fitzanko said he hopes to raise $5,000 during the weekend.
Businesses and organizations including the Fraternal Order of Police
Lodge 105 and Wal-Mart already have donated.

"In order for the DARE program to work, it not only takes police,
school and the family teaching the kids, but also the community," he
said.

Fitzanko's campout comes during a struggling time for DARE programs
statewide.

The Peoria Police Department's DARE program was suspended in 2002
because of city budget cuts and will remain on hiatus until more money
is available to reinstate it, spokeswoman Ann Ruggles said.

Illinois State Police DARE officers will be reassigned to other
positions July 1, also because of a lack of budget support to keep the
program going.

"Federally, the money (for DARE programs) has been dwindling every
year," ISP spokesman Master Sgt. Rick Hector said. "It's at the point
where it's basically gone."

In Pekin, Police Chief Tim Gillespie said Pekin's DARE is not in
jeopardy, despite last year's concerns the program might be affected
if the city's budget problems forced deeper cuts.

Gillespie said Fitzanko's quest atop Wal-Mart's roof is merely an
"alternative way of raising funds" to support a quality community
policing program, and it's not an attempt to save the program.

"This is something unique," said Gillespie, who cannot recall any
similar fund-raising effort during his lengthy career in Pekin. "I
hope it goes over. It's definitely a worthy cause."

Fitzanko said he got the idea about 1 1/2 months ago after reading
about a similar stunt conducted by police officers throughout
Wisconsin that raised nearly $60,000 for Special Olympics.

He hopes other DARE fund-raisers held this week, including a Tuesday
event at Monical's, are as successful.

But right now, Fitzanko is just hoping he can make it through the
weekend. "I have a good sleeping bag, so I should be OK," he said.

But if the cold gets to him, "I have plenty of sick time."