Hodgkins DARE officer ends 12-year run

Hodgkins Police Chief Ernest Millsap presents Sgt. Michael Cimino with a statue honoring his years of service as the DARE officer for the police department.

From Staff Reports
Desplaines Valley News

Hodgkins police Sgt. Michael Cimino recently ended his 12-year stint as the police department's DARE officer.

Cimino addressed the 2013 DARE graduates on April 24 in his last official act as the coordinator of the anti-drug program.

“It’s helped me to look at law enforcement through the eyes of sixth-graders, and how they view police officers,” Cimino said. “It’s made me more mindful and aware of our image in the community. 

"I’m proud that, as a DARE officer, I was able to be a positive adult figure, and in particular a positive law enforcement figure, in so many children’s lives.  Often, because I taught multiple siblings in succession over several years, and interacted with their parents and siblings over and over, I had the feeling of being a part of their family.”

Cimino will now assume other police duties as Officer Matthew Hosteny takes over as DARE officer.

“I think what I will miss most is seeing the enthusiasm of the kids when I would walk in.  Kids get very excited about DARE activities," Cimino said.

"I’m sure [Hosteny] will do a great job, as he’s young and he already has a good relationship with the kids,” said Cimino.

The Hodgkins DARE program was started in January 1991 by former Chief Phil Kringlie, who was then a youth officer, at the behest of Chief Rich Stewart.

A year later, Sgt. Chris Milojevich was invited to run the program, and did so for nine years. 

During his tenure as DARE officer, Milojevich started the practice of taking the kids on field trips and doing community service projects, such as raking leaves for the elderly and fundraising for flood victims and a children’s home for the abused.

He first contacted Cimino, who had already been a juvenile officer for two years at that time, about DARE in 2000, to see if he would be interested in becoming the new DARE officer.  He turned the program completely over to Cimino in 2001.

“I wanted him to run DARE as he saw fit, to make the program his own,” Milojevich said.  “I didn’t want to intrude on his ideas.  I was given free reign, and I wanted him to have the same opportunity.” 

Milojevich was pleased with the results. 

“I think Mike did a wonderful job,” Milojevich said.  “He was committed to making the program work, sacrificing a lot of time away from his family.  And the kids really loved him.”

Hodgkins Police Chief Ernest Millsap, who taught DARE in Countryside for 12 years, had modeled his own program in the much the same way as Milojevich, taking the kids on field trips, doing fundraisers, and participating in various community service projects. 

In addition, he started doing end-of-year video slideshows to highlight the activities of each graduating DARE class, and that was something Cimino incorporated as well. 

At the recent graduation, Millsap gave a public recognition of Cimino and expressed both his personal appreciation of the hard work Cimino has done, as well as the appreciation of the department for the many years of service given.

Millsap also relates to the sentiments Cimino expressed.  “The bonds you make with students are always there, as well as with parents,” he said. 

The Hodgkins Police Department is now at work developing further school-interaction programs, which Millsap will unveil in the coming months.

“We are in the process of developing DARE-type programs for some of the lower grades, which will cover anti-bullying, avoiding bad situations, and knowing who to call if help is needed,” Millsap said.