Pubdate: Tue, 29 Jul 2008
Source: Vindicator, The (Youngstown, OH)
Copyright: 2008 The Vindicator
Contact:  http://www.vindy.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3298
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

DARE OFFICER TO STOP SCHOOL DUTY

BOARDMAN -- The township's DARE police officer returns to the 
department's patrol division next week because of decreased manpower 
and falling budget numbers.

The department, which staffed 63 officers in 2006, has dropped to 51 
with three more officers expected to leave this year either through 
retirement or resignation.

The township received an $18,000 state grant last year to help fund 
the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, but the officer's pay, 
with salary and benefits, is $84,000, Chief Patrick Berarducci said.

"Since I can't hire people to increase manpower, what I can do is 
narrow our operations to what is most important," he said.

Returning the DARE officer to the road along with another officer who 
formerly worked on the U.S. Marshal's Task Force will increase to 26 
the number of patrolmen among three shifts. The chief said more 
changes are expected.

Frank Lazzeri, school superintendent, said DARE is part of the 
school's health curriculum and without the DARE officer, the 
responsibility for instructing children in the DARE principles will 
fall to the health teacher.

He said he thinks that having that instruction coming from a police 
officer enhances the message and it enables children to see police 
officers in a positive light.

Last year, the department's DARE officer taught 21 separate 10-week 
classes to fifth graders in public and parochial schools within the 
Boardman school district. The program educates children on the 
dangers of illegal drugs, gang membership and violent behavior.

Another change expected this week is elimination of police responding 
to calls of gas drive-offs, when a motorist pumps gasoline but drives 
away without paying for it.

The department will develop forms to distribute along with a letter 
from Berarducci for gas station owners. The forms will enable victims 
to input information about the crime and sign it, indicating they 
intend to prosecute those responsible.

It's a way to allow officers more time on the road.

The chief also is considering elimination of police response calls to 
vehicle crashes that occur on private property and incidents such as 
thefts where there are no witnesses and the victim requests a police 
report merely for insurance purposes.

Trustees last week voted to place a five-year, 2.2-mill 
safety-services levy on the November ballot. If it passes, the 
township hopes to hire six to 10 police officers and bring back six, 
and three laid-off firefighters and road department employees, respectively.

"If we get a levy and rehire officers, the first thing that I will 
restore is the DARE program," Berarducci said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom