A CALL FOR FUND-RAISING

BRENTWOOD - This is your brain, this is your money going toward drug
prevention, any question?

The Brentwood Police Department is fund-raising for its Drug Abuse
Resistance Education program. Residents in the Brentwood area can
expect phone calls from telemarketers asking for money for the
Brentwood's D.A.R.E. program.

These funds will pay for various rewards D.A.R.E. officers give to
fifth-graders who participate in the program, said Cpl. H.D. Wood IV.
He said the fund-raising effort, which is the only support for the
D.A.R.E. program in Brentwood, will help pay for a graduation
ceremony, rewards, and certificates for students who complete the
10-week program.

"It's gone far beyond, 'just say no to drugs," it actually gets into
behavioral," he said.

Wood, along with Officer Joseph Fussell, are Brentwood's certified
D.A.R.E. officers.

The two spend 10 weeks in Swasey School and the Ellis School in
Fremont, educating fifth-graders about the risks of drug use. The
officers talk about the dangers of drug abuse, the consequences of
negative behaviors, how to deal with people forcing them into negative
actions, and how to avoid such situations. Both are full-time
Brentwood officers, who assist Fremont's D.A.R.E. program.

"In my opinion of the D.A.R.E. program, most people just think 'just
say no to drugs,' but the D.A.R.E. program positively reinforces a
child's confidence," he said. "It allows them not only to deal with
certain situations that they might get into, but it also opens a line
of communication with a police officer. I believe it's important
education-wise, and behavioral wise."

The program is funded through donations and this current fund-raising
effort. East Coast Marketing Group, a telemarketing agency, will
administer the fund-raising efforts. They will be calling residents in
Brentwood, and its surrounding towns like Epping, Exeter and Fremont,
asking for donations.

Wood explained that the philosophy behind the efforts stretching past
Brentwood's borders is that residents are patrons of businesses in
surrounding towns, and all the students will eventually move onto
Exeter High School. He said if any resident who receives a call from
the telemarketer has concerns or questions, he or she should call him
at the police station at 642-6400.