Crestwood Elementary Bids Farewell to Retiring DARE Officer

The DARE celebration at Crestwood Elementary School last week was the last for Crestwood Police Officer Mike Provaznik, who graduated his last class of fifth-graders. Provaznik will retire from the police force in 2013.

DARE is a nationwide program that stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. It gives kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs and violence. Police officers lead classroom lessons about resisting peer pressure and living productive lives.

At the graduation assembly, students read essays and made thank-you cards. 

“If you can keep drugs, negativity and violence out of your life, and if you are successful, then your parents will think you are real gems,” Provaznik said. 

Provaznik has been the DARE officer at both and Elementary schools for eight years. During that time, he has helped lead hundreds of Lindbergh students toward drug-free, promising futures. He has been a Crestwood police officer for 35 years and a DARE officer for 16 years.

“Officer Mike has made a difference in so many children’s lives, and we’ve been lucky to have you as our DARE officer for 16 years,” Superintendent Dr. Jim Simpson said during the ceremony.

Provaznik and Principal Scott Taylor also introduced fourth-graders to their new DARE officer, Ed Bartelme, who has served on the Crestwood Police force for 17 years and will begin teaching classes in 2012.

Later, the graduates read essays about what DARE has taught them.

“I have learned many things about drugs that will help me make wise decisions later in life,” said fifth-grader Anna Musich. “Officer Mike has been extremely kind and helpful. He is a good teacher.”