SOUTH OGDEN — The shiny red D.A.R.E. car, a 2007 Saturn Sky, is now covered with black spray paint, which will cost thousands of dollars to remove and repaint.
“We have these cars for the kids and the community,” said Davis County Sheriff’s Deputy Cole Thon, the D.A.R.E. officer at West Point Junior High School.
The car’s D.A.R.E. motto, “To resist drugs and violence,” is barely visible under the black paint. Black paint also covered the car’s windows and hubcaps.
South Ogden police are seeking information on who vandalized the D.A.R.E. car and also spray painted “F... Cops” on the garage doors at the home of a Weber County sheriff’s deputy.
“These guys were targeted,” said South Ogden Police Officer Matt Thompson. “As far as we are aware, no other property (in the area) was vandalized.”
Thompson said the two officers live within a “stone’s throw of each other.” The incidents happened in the area of 1200 E. 5800 South, South Ogden.
Anyone with information can call the Weber dispatch center at 801-629-8221.
“We hope South Ogden (police) find out who did it,” said Weber County Sheriff’s Lt. Mark Lowther. “It’s unfortunate when anyone is vandalized.”
The Weber County sheriff’s deputy whose garage was sprayed painted did not have any vehicles parked in his driveway.
Thon had parked the D.A.R.E. vehicle in his driveway after returning home from a school carnival at 10 p.m. Friday.
“This is a really quiet neighborhood,” Thon said.
He said a friend came over at 9 a.m. Saturday and asked him, “Who painted all over your car?”
“I went out, and I couldn’t believe it myself,” Thon said.
“I’m more disappointed than anything else. It’s a D.A.R.E. car. I’m not out writing tickets. I work in a school, teaching kids how to make good choices.”
Thon said this particular car, which was donated by Saturn of Riverdale, is used in many parades and goes to all the safety fairs sponsored by schools and the commmunity.
Davis County Sheriff Todd Richardson said even though this is an isolated incident, he will meet with deputies and administrators on Monday to discuss how to keep deputies safe at their homes.
“We may be readdressing how and where we park our cars,” Richardson said.
“We want to make sure the homes of our officers are safe.”
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