Pubdate: Thu, 16 Dec 2004
Source: Source, The (MI)
Copyright: 2004 Source Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.sourcenewspapers.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3249
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

D.A.R.E. TO BE DIFFERENT

Big Things Come In Small Packages

The Shelby Township Police Department recently took delivery of a new
Mini Cooper to help carry the message of the Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program, courtesy of Bavarian BMW/Motor City Mini in Shelby
Township.

D.A.R.E. Officer Al O'Neal said the vehicle has received a lot of
interest from students in the program.

"I think it will make a big impression on the kids," O'Neal said.
"I've even got a lot of nice comments from adults around the
community. They'll stop me while I'm out in the community and comment
on it."

The D.A.R.E. program helps build self-esteem and teaches students to
have the strength to resist peer pressure and say no to drugs.

O'Neal teaches five days a week, both semesters, working with the
sixth-graders at the elementary schools within Shelby Township in the
Utica Community Schools district and the fifth-grade students at Peace
Lutheran. By the end of 2004-2005 school year, he will be handling
approximately 30 different classrooms.

In addition to getting O'Neal from school to school to teach his
anti-drug message, there are other secondary benefits.

The attractive, flashy graphics and lights catch the attention of the
students and their interest in the vehicle creates an opportunity for
the officer to have dialogue with the kids and build a positive
channel of communication.

"The kids think it's pretty neat. It's the only Mini Cooper D.A.R.E.
car that I know of," he said. "It will be a good tool to get student
interest and form positive relationships with the kids to help them
steer clear of bad decisions."

The department will have the use of the vehicle at no charge, courtesy
of the dealership, which is owned by well-known BMW dealer Eitel Dahm.

"Shelby Township is a great community and a great family community,"
said Wayne Youngblood, general manager of the dealership. "We're new
here, we wanted people to know we're here and we wanted to give back
to the community. Mr. Dahm feels that contributing to the community is
much better than spending money in advertising. Certainly the fight
against drugs is number one and that's our reasoning."

Trim-Tec applied graphics to the vehicle and Wireless Cynergy
installed the vehicle's flashing lights.

Chief Robert Leman said that he and his department are very
appreciative of the gesture by Bavarian BMW/Motor City Mini.

"We feel that the use of the Mini Cooper will increase our positive
relations with school children through the D.A.R.E. program," Leman
said.

"It's something unusual and it appeals to children at that age. It's
one of those vehicles that fascinates them," he said. "They also sell
a lot of Mini Coopers to older adults, because you see them out on the
road, but this is something that definitely appeals to the younger
generation."

The Mini Cooper will be used in conjunction with the department's
other D.A.R.E. vehicle, a Ford Expedition.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin