D.A.R.E. OFFICER CITED WITH DUI

Henry County Deputy Suspended During Inquiry

NAPOLEON - As head of the local D.A.R.E. program, Debra Pittman has been
teaching Henry County school children to say no to drugs and alcohol.

Now, the longtime sheriff's deputy is in trouble with the law, allegedly
for driving drunk while she was off duty.

Ms. Pittman, 42, of Napoleon, a county sheriff's deputy for nearly 25
years, was arrested about 1:18 a.m. Friday by Ohio Highway Patrol troopers
in Defiance.

She was charged with driving under the influence after she was stopped on
County Road L at State Rt. 65 near her home in rural Henry County. She also
was cited for not wearing her seat belt and having a broken taillight.

Sheriff John Nye said he has suspended the deputy with pay pending an
internal investigation that could take several days.

"I'm very disappointed," Sheriff Nye said yesterday.

The sheriff said Ms. Pittman has done a good job since becoming the
county's D.A.R.E., or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, officer about four
years ago. Through her job, she has appeared in Henry County schools daily,
teaching youngsters to resist peer pressure and live drug-free and
violence-free lives.

In addition to her D.A.R.E. activities, Ms. Pittman was supervisor of the
county's 911 system, the sheriff said.

"Everybody's kind of upset about it," Mr. Ohlrich said. "It's a black eye
for us."

As union president, Mr. Ohlrich said he plans to monitor the administrative
review process.

Mr. Ohlrich said the department has no set disciplinary action for officers
charged with crimes. But Sheriff Nye said the pending ruling could call for
anything from time off to suspension or termination.

Neither Ms. Pittman nor her attorney, Charles Bates of Defiance, could be
reached for comment.

According to Napoleon Municipal Court, Mr. Bates filed for an appearance in
court on Ms. Pittman's behalf. Through her attorney, Ms. Pittman waived her
arraignment. A pretrial conference is scheduled for May 20.

Ralph Lochridge, communications director for D.A.R.E. America in Los
Angeles, said he didn't know of any other case of a D.A.R.E. officer being
arrested for drunken driving. He said care is taken in choosing D.A.R.E.
officers, who must adhere to strict national policies.

Though unfamiliar with the situation, Mr. Lochridge said it will be
important for people to await the outcome of the case. He said pupils
should be told.

"I think it's essential," he said. "I think you have to be honest to show
how drugs can affect one's life. It's a hard lesson for everybody."