Agenda - Council - 08/14/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

' Chief. m corn'er · · ' .'. by Chief Andy Revering According to the Chairman of the recently released White House II I I I I I" Conference for a Drug Free America, "Drugs threaten to destro}, the United States as we know it, From both within and without, this country is being at- tacked as never before in its history. But in every part of the land, Americans are beginning to fight =ack. Indifference and denial are yielding to a growing national c~mmitment to turn the tide against illicit drug use and trafficking, Peo- ple are changing their formerly tolerant attitude towards those who sell drugs and those who use them." The illegal use and sale of drugs in this country has developed into an overwhelming problem at every jurisdictional level, The-'City of Anoka is no exception. Since 1985, we have worked over 13,5 narcotics cases. We have cleared 113 of' those cases making 114 arrests. The Anoka County Joint Law En- forcement Council has successfully obtained federal funding to assist Ioca~ municipalities with additional drug enforcement. City of Anoka Police dogs have been trained to detect drugs. They are used ran- domiy to so,ch various public and private properties at the request of proper'P/ managers for hidden drugs. Anoka Police Officers will begin a pilot program in two elementary schools in January 1989 where they will teach D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). D.A.R.E. was originally conceiv- ed by Los Angeles Police Chief ':": '"'"'~:"~ ' ........ "' '>"'¢'"':'~*'~:'~;:~."¢ ~' .;': .... Daz71F. Gat~ in 1983. He sh~ed te~ commitmen~and long te~ i ,,, , -.:~..~;~.~t.~ ~ .' .. -- L ..' :" ~::: ..[';~ . h~ idea ~ the Los ~geles ~ ~p~ ~e na~on, me state, :..: .L....' .;~::~:~:.~- ·; ' - Unit~ Sch~l Dimd~ Supednten- ' and ~e I~1 communi~ all have a . ..;~-~r;~..;..~ .. : dent, Dr. Har~ H~ndier. The st~a in ~e results of not dealing , ~:~'.;:~.'::~1. ~h~l D~ ~d the Lm ~gel~ wire ~is m~t epidemic prablem. ~';':''] ' ,'{:: and developed ~ integrat~ cur- m~ ~ ~qrmg to ,~p~ ,.o~ o~ ..:..: ~ :L~i~F. Police ~pa~en~ j~n~ forces · Our youth ~e our fmure and we :' '-- ficulum that provides chiMren with seve~ ~nts to stamp out a~g ' .': ':" .';;~',---~ :-~. the skills necessa~ to resist sbuse. O~ youth ~ese~e it and : ..,:....~:.:, .: procures to experiment w~h d~gs histo~ will reflect it. ~:.:~ ...... ~ .- and alcohol. EQually Jmp~ant. D.A.R.E. helps build a youngster's self-confidence, while making them aware of the importance anti con- sequences of critical decisions. The program's reported tremen- dous success, with students, teachers, principals, and parents alike, is due in part to the spec!al trust and friendship that develcos between the students and me D.A.R.F. officers. Since its ince=,- tion in 1983 cn analyses cf the LCS Angeles D.A.R.E. program in- dicates that thcse kids trained in D.A.R.E. are significantly less like- ly to become involved in illegal drugs than those not trained. The family is the most important unit for the transmission of values and attitudes. A strong, sta~le, suo- po~Jve, and nurturing fatuity pro- vides children with the optimal en- vironmental conditions to grow, develop, mature, and learn to be productive compassionate adults. Therefore, the family is the key ele- ment for the assurance of a drug free society. Parents must take strong stands to counter peer pressure and other outside in- fluences to use drugs and alcohol cna daily basis. Not only must they set the right example, provide ao- propdate guidance, and set limits of behavior, they must also unde.~- tend that they are hetcl ac:ounta, ble for the'ir children's actions. Paten- ' tbood connotes responsibility. Parents have a responsibility to know what and who their children are involved with. Stamping out drug abuse seems like a simple message but it is a 'complicated process involving long .7 -;