Hillside Police Chief Robert Quinlan has announced that the D.A.R.E. Program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), which the Hillside Police Department has operated successfully in the Hillside School System for about 20 years, has been cancelled. The mission of D.A.R.E. is to provide Hillside children with the information and skills they need to overcome challenges to living drug and violence free lives. The program also establishes positive relationships between students and law enforcement, teachers, parents, and other community leaders.

The chief's decision is the result of a "final" report recently released by Municipal Resources, Inc., a consulting firm based in New Hampshire that was retained by the Hillside Township Council in 2011. The report mirrors a draft report issued by the company in November of 2011.

According to the consultant's report, "To further save costs, MRI suggests that the DARE program be eliminated. In doing so, any personnel assigned to DARE should be reassigned to patrol. Additionally, if there is a School Resource Officer (SRO), that position should be temporarily discontinued and reinstated when resources allow."

According to Chief Quinlan, he expressed objections to the consultant's recommendations, but neither Mayor Joseph Menza nor Councilman Frank Deo supported him nor did they express support for the D.A.R.E. program. Frank Deo, who currently serves as both a member of the Township Council and Superintendent of Schools, was Council President when the study was commissioned in 2011. Like Mayor Menza, he has not expressed any objection to the consultant's report.

Although Chief Quinlan has expressed opposition to many facets of the report and wanted to retain the D.A.R.E. program in the township's schools, he stated that he would make every reasonable effort to implement the report unless it is rejected by both the mayor and council. "Clearly, the township administration commissioned the study, paid for the study with tax dollars, and expects the report to be implemented. I find it unfortunate that they chose a company from rural New Hampshire that may not completely understand the needs of a community like Hillside. The D.A.R.E. Program may be considered a luxury in New Hampshire, but it was vital in Hillside; its elimination will be a real loss to the children of the township."

Chief Quinlan praised the work of Detective Brian Wilson and Police Officer Suzanne Mandy, who have been dedicated D.A.R.E. instructors for many years. "Both officers are saddened by the consultant's findings and regret that D.A.R.E. was targeted for elimination, as I do."