The Brookfield Police Department’s D.A.R.E. car won two trophies at the annual Illinois D.A.R.E. Officer’s Association Summer Training Conference from June 26-29. Brookfield Police Officer Dan Kudla and Lt. Edward Petrak attended the conference, where the department’s 1991 Chevrolet Camaro convertible won the “people’s Choice” award for best car in the show and a first-place trophy for “Best in Class-D.A.R.E. Car” at the “Forever In Their Eyes” D.A.R.E. Car Show which was held at the Bloomingdale Park District Rec Center on June 28.
Brookfield acquired its D.A.R.E. car in June of 1999 after a local resident was caught selling the illegal drug ecstasy (MDMA). In addition to facing felony drug charges and a potential jail sentence, his sporty red 1991 Chevrolet Camaro convertible was seized under the Illinois Asset Forfeiture Law.
Initially Brookfield used the car for undercover assignments. In the spring of 2001 the Camaro was converted into the community’s first DARE car. Body work and a professional paint job were generously donated by Richard Brost, owner of Perfect Auto Rebuilders in Brookfield. Following the paint and body work, drug forfeiture money was used to purchase new alloy rims, a siren, police strobe lights and custom graphics for the car. In the summer of 2001 the DARE car made its first community appearance in our annual Fourth of July Parade. Since that time, the car has been used to promote Brookfield’s D.A.R.E. Program at many community events.
