COMPANY DONATES CORVETTE FOR DARE

Area police officers working to educate students about the dangers of drug and alcohol dependency can now pull up to schools in style thanks to JCS/Tel-Link.

The company, which sells and services communications products, will donate the use of a 1984 corvette outfitted as a police car to officers working in Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education, or DARE programs throughout the area.

The car, which was unveiled during a Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours meeting Tuesday, was obtained by the company from a private owner. It took about a month of efforts from company employees and AutoTrim Design employees to dress the car in its police uniform.

It will be used as a show car for the business' products and will be kept on display in the JCS/Tel-Link showroom at 1606 N. Kingshighway when not in use.

"Having had a close working relationship with area police departments for the past 38 years, we gained a respect for what they represent and the safety they afford for all of us," said Kathy Swan, company president. "Having been trained in the DARE program as a volunteer, I have a tremendous amount of admiration for their determination and dedication in keeping kids off drugs."

Swan said the police car is fully equipped with a working two-way radio, siren, lights, public address system, cellular telephone and stereo system. The two-way radio has been programmed to all of the frequencies of departments that might use the vehicle in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, she said.

"When we started thinking about two-way radios, emergency personnel came to mind," Swan said. "We try to make business a little fun, too, as well as informative.

"When we started the second show car, I thought about police cars and sports cars, and then for some reason the DARE program jumped into my mind. Kids are really into sports cars, so we thought if we put the two together we'd be able to educate more kids about the dangers of drugs."

Swan said she hopes the car will help officers catch students' attention so that they will be receptive to the message against using drugs.

"With this car, it is our hope that it will assist the DARE officers with youngsters as they approach their teens by providing clean minds for our teachers to teach in preparation for a healthy, productive 21st century," she said. "It's our hope that we can help convince kids that cops are cool, too."