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DARE PROGRAM STILL POPULAR

Herkimer, N.Y.  - While the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program has been discontinued in a neighboring county, the program is going strong in the village of Herkimer and Herkimer County according to two people who have their fingers on the pulse of the program. 

According to Herkimer D.A.R.E.  Officer and Mentor Tony Brindisi, Herkimer has a unique situation when it comes to the anti-drug program. 

"( D.A.R.E.  ) starts with the three-legged stool.  The theory involves community, parents and the school," said Brindisi. 

He said the community includes the village board, village administration, police department and businesses that support the program.  The parents play a role by re-enforcing what the program has taught and the school works in conjunction with the police department said Brindisi. 

"They all work together to keep this program going," said Brindisi. 

Herkimer County Sheriff Christopher Farber said the program remains popular in local schools.  The department is responsible for providing the program to West Canada Valley, Reese Road and West Frankfort Elementary Schools.  He said other schools have been involved in the past. 

"D.A.R.E.  seems to be a good fit for this county and for the schools," said Farber.  "We do whatever we can do."

Recently funding for the program on the state level was dropped and the program was discontinued in Oneida County. 

Farber said his department operates the program as efficiently as possible and the Herkimer County Legislature has continued to show support for the program. 

"As long as there is support on the local level, we will continue the program and do more with less," said Farber. 

Brindisi held the annual D.A.R.E.  Run a few weeks ago, which is an annual fund-raiser for Herkimer's program.  He also spends time throughout the year seeking donations from local clubs, organizations and businesses. 

He said whenever he asks for help, the community gives him whatever it can, from money to tools and supplies for the run. 

"Everybody helps, that is what keeps ( the program ) going," said Brindisi. 

Brindisi said when the program is lost, students lose a tool. 

He is also sure the program works, although he said there are no numbers that reinforce his thought. 

"If D.A.R.E.  is depending on a police officer in the classroom to say D.A.R.E.  works, then it doesn't work, but it needs all the entities for every leg of the stool to work," said Brindisi. 

"Any time there is a positive interaction between law enforcement and the youth it is a good thing.  D.A.R.E.  isn't just about staying away from drugs, but it is also about character, making positive decisions and not negative decisions," said Farber. 

"( The community ) loves the program here ( in Herkimer ).  The outpour of support here is stronger now than it ever has been.  It works well here, and always will," added Brindisi.