With the help of the Kootenai Tribe of Bonners Ferry the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program is going strong after 20 years.

In just the past seven years the Tribe has made contributions to the DARE program totaling $116,420 which has helped this very important program stay afloat.

According to Bonners Ferry deputy chief of police Joel Minor, without the Tribe’s contributions over the years he is not sure the program would still be in existence.

“I want the community to understand just how much they have come through for our DARE program and kids of this community,” said Minor.  “Without the Tribe’s support the DARE and School Resource Officer may not be here.”

The DARE and SRO Cpl. Tiffany Murray appreciates the contributions as well and looks forward to the upcoming DARE season. She will be going on her third year teaching DARE to the Boundary County School fifth-graders.

Murray, David Koon her assistant and her partner, chocolate lab Sally Sue all grew up in Bonners Ferry. Murray knows and understands the specific problems and the benefits that can come from growing up in a small town.  She is very excited about meeting the upcoming fifth-graders and seeing students again.

She will soon be visiting schools in a new DARE vehicle the city purchased, a black 2011 Tahoe bearing insignia of the Bonners Ferry Police, Boundary County Sheriff, Kooteani Tribe of Idaho and DARE.  

Keep an eye out for Murray and Sally Sue this summer and she will be seeing students come September.