News

Sheriff's unveil DARE hot rod

Daily Sound - December 2008

Victor Maccharoli - Students from Brandon and El Camino elementary schools check out the new D.A.R.E. Dodge Charger

When Senior Deputy Mike Power joined the sheriff’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program a few years ago, he was outfitted with a 1997 Dodge Stratus with oxidized paint.

A few years later, he upgraded to a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria with a faulty transmission.

So to be standing in the lot of Santa Barbara Chrysler next to a brand new, limited edition Dodge Charger R/T decked out in DARE decals just months later meant a lot to him, as well as to the hundreds of local kids who go through the program annually.

“It means everything, really,” Power said. “It makes it that much more special to know there are people out there who want to support their community.”

He’s referring to the owner of the car dealership, Jim Crook, as well as Chris Edgecomb of the Edgecomb Foundation — the duo that partnered together to donate the new DARE car free of charge.

Having been contacted by Power a few months ago asking for help, Crook said he thought about it for a few days before deciding to donate the car with the help of the foundation, which supports law enforcement and public safety.

“It was just something that jumped out,” Crook said of the limited edition Charger.

Now outfitted with red and blue LED lights and official DARE and sheriff’s decals, the hot rod definitely stands out. Power said students have a completely different response when he pulls up to a class or event now.

“Usually their jaws drop and they say something like, awesome,” he said.

Along with a 350-horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine and 20-inch wheels, the Charger also features Daytona 500 decals — making it one of fewer than 2,000 of its kind released this year.

“It just seemed like the perfect investment,” Edgecomb said. “The youth of our community — what could be a better investment?”

Having seen the new DARE car for the first time yesterday, fifth grader Marcus Campbell said the “Hemi orange” color and slick decals immediately caught his eye.

“It’s cool,” the Brandon Elementary School student and recent DARE graduate said. “I liked inside and it makes me feel like when I grow up I would want to be a DARE officer and drive a car like this.”

Campbell graduated from the program several months ago after attending several classes a week for approximately a month and a half. He said officers talked about how drugs affect the human body and how to avoid situations where he might be pressured into using illegal substances.

After a short presentation, Sheriff Bill Brown honored both Crook and Edgecomb with plaques featuring a photo of the Charger and a message of thanks, noting that the car is a tremendous asset for the sheriff’s department.

“We are very fortunate to be the recipients of incredible generosity,” he said. “…We have this beautiful new car that is a showcase for our DARE program

He described how Power, who heads the DARE program on the South Coast, came to him several months ago asking for a new car. With cuts already made to the budget and more likely on the way, Brown had to turn down the request.

But he did give the green light for Power to search for private donors to support the project.

“I think it was a day or two later that I got an email saying, we’ve got a car picked out,” Brown said.

Brown said DARE officers teach kids how to make responsible decisions, particularly when it comes to drugs and alcohol use. Showing up in a flashy car like the Charger will also show local youth that they don’t have to take drugs to be cool, he said.

“These young people just gravitate to it,” he said. “They are really drawn to it.”

When asked how he can afford to give away a limited edition car like the Charger during a tough economic crunch, Crook laughed and said, “I can’t. I’m hoping this brings me good karma.”

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