CNBNews

Dear Mr.Cleary,

In the most recent edition of the Gloucester City News there was an article about the Mt.Ephraim 5th grade graduation ofthe DARE program.  Congratulations to them!

Now, are you aware of the fact that our DARE program has been suspended for the Saint  Mary's school children?  This program has had a positive influence on our children.  The police presence in our school has been a positive one and we would like to see that continue throughout the years. 

A little back ground on our current situation.  Officer Driscoll was coming in on Wednesday's meeting with the 6, 7, and 8th graders of our school.  Sometime in late May while trying to schedule the annual DARE dance and closing celeberations our school was informed that Officer Driscoll had been put on night work and we assumed we no longer had DARE.  This upset our school very much.  Our faculty, students, and principal wrote letters asking the Chief to please reconsider cancelling our DARE program.  No personal response was given to us from the chief.  However, officers Moody, Zeigler, and Lee called the school and coordinated a pizza party for the DARE graduates.  We would like to thank them for that!  Although they are not certified DARE instructors, the event was held as a "police function". 

I find it funny that we have 2 certified DARE officers and both have been put on permanent night work by the chief.  What will happen to our DARE program next year?  Maybe a little investigation of why these 2 officers who have been trained in community policing for the children of this city are not being utilized properly!  Thanks for your time.

Joan Bohrer

7th grade teacher

NOTE FROM BILL: Dear Joan, I spoke with Mayor James and he informed me that the program will be offered to the St. Mary's children in September. He also said he called you after he was notified of what happened. Let me know if I can be of further help.