Police, DEA Descend on Juanita Elementary for Anti-Drug Event

Aide cars, police cruisers, fire engines and federal agents in SUVs descended upon in Kirkland Tuesday with lights flashing, sirens blaring and a helicopter swooping low overhead.

A rescue scene? A fire? A medical emergency? No, just an event in the federal Drug Enforcement Adminstration’s (DEA) “Red Ribbon Anti-Drug Campaign.”

The program is a drug awareness and education campaign launched in tribute to DEA Special Agent Enriqué “Kiki” Camarena, who was killed in 1985 in Mexico by drug traffickers. Red Ribbon Week in October is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention program. Wearing red ribbons, DEA and local officials ask young people to pledge to live a drug-free life.

Each year the DEA brings the message to several schools around the country, and this year Juanita Elementary was one of them. Federal agents in camoflage, Kirkland Police Chief Eric Olson and other Kirkland officers, fire and rescue personnel, and City Councilman Bob Sternoff participated as a school band played in front of the elementary.

After the vivid arrival of law enforcement personnel, the kids were taken to an assembly inside the school, led by a U.S. Army honor guard showing the colors.

"We want the kids to see their local law enforcement, and we want it to be an attention-grabber," explained Seattle-based DEA Special Agent Jodie Underwood. "The basic message is that if you make good choices, you can be anything you want to be."

At the assembly, K-9 units performed a demonstration, local DEA officials spoke and Chief Olsen delivered the keynote speech.

"It's fun, but it's also educational," said Underwood. "It's a special day."

Last year the event was held at just up the street from Juanita Elementary.

Juanita Prinicpal Dana Stairs said the students were thrilled by the event and the chance to talk with local police officers and firefighters.

"The kids absolutely loved it," she said. "It was a really good, positive way to get the message about making good choices. It was just a real positive, exciting event. The kids loved being able to actually talk to policemen and firefighters and sit in the aid cars and fire engines."