On Friday, April 14th, the Munster Police Department and our local schools celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Program in the United States as well as 35 years of the program being presented in Munster through a large number of fun activities for the students. The program was implemented in 1988 under our first D.A.R.E. Officer, Terry Jostes.
A parade of approximately 20 emergency vehicles plus Munster School Superintendent Dr. Bret Heller and our safety mascots (including D.A.R.E. mascot Daren the Lion) drove past each of the schools that morning as the children stood outside cheering and holding support signs.
In addition, students from the elementary schools were encouraged to enter a coloring contest with one student from each school being awarded a Daren the Lion stuffed animal as a prize. Our five winners are pictured on the police department’s Facebook page.
Students also were provided with Junior D.A.R.E. Officer badge stickers with numbers on them. Throughout the day, numbers were randomly selected for those students to win D.A.R.E.-themed prizes.
The Munster Police Department would like to thank the Choice Community Council for sponsoring the lions and other prizes, the Munster Fire Department, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Bowman Displays & Digital Imaging, and Superior Ambulance for their assistance and support. We also appreciate the staff and students for helping to celebrate the day.