DARE SERVES A VALUABLE PURPOSE

Cincinnati City Council is making a grievous mistake in eliminating the DARE
program. Council members' own remarks, quoted in The Enquirer Aug. 7
illustrate the folly of eliminating DARE.

According to the article, there are a "handful" of officers involved. Jim
Tarbell says they are desperately needed to patrol the street, as a
"preventive" force. This force Mr. Tarbell is touting consists of seven
officers, equal to about seven-tenths of 1 percent of the police division.
Not much of a "force" to patrol the streets.

Law Committee Chairman Pat DeWine called Mr. Tarbell's move "courageous." If
Cincinnati desperately needs more officers on the street, what would truly
be courageous is for council to increase the authorized strength of the
police division, and fund the necessary personnel.

But, patrol strength is only one of the problems facing the City of
Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Police Department. They are in the midst of a
massive community relations and public relations crisis. There are no simple
solutions to the city's community relations problems, but DARE is an
integral part of fostering positive community relations.

The Enquirer article describes how this "handful" of officers visits up to
75 public and private schools each year. If we very conservatively estimate
each school at 300 students and staff members, that calculates to 22,500
residents having on on going , positive contact with specially trained
officers of the Cincinnati Police Department. Utilizing 0.7 percent of the
department's complement for regular outreach to over 22,000 children and
adults yields an incredible return on investment for good community
relations.

Over many years, I have heard the DARE program criticized as "nothing put
public relations? While I disagree with this over simplified assessment, if
we assume it is true, then it makes DARE an appropriate and necessary use of
police division personnel.

As a DARE officer, students of all ages routinely greet me by name, often
with hugs and handshakes. I am recognized and greeted off duty, when I am
shopping, eating out, or going to a movie. My daughter is convinced that I
must "know everybody." Isn't that the way Mr. Tarbell, Mr. DeWme and the
rest of council and the entire Cincinnati Police Department would like
Cincinnati's citizens to interact with their police officers? Looking at the
events of the last year, Cincinnati has a long way to go in police-community
relations. DARE should be retained to improve those relations. Eliminating
DARE is a poor utilization of the police department's important resources.
Let's see if there is anyone courageous enough on Cincinnati City Council to
keep DARE.

Jeffrey H. Wilt., MS.
Springdale Police Department
DARE Officer