Officers warn about drug abuse, gangs

When a San Diego Police Department program that instructs children in school safety and drug abuse ran into money woes this year, it looked to the community for help. Wells Fargo Bank came to the rescue.

At Bayview Terrace Elementary School in Pacific Beach yesterday, Police Chief William Lansdowne accepted a $25,000 donation from Wells Fargo for equipment to continue officer instruction for more than 95,000 students in 183 elementary schools this year.

"This is one of the most effective programs we have to fight gang activity or other violence involving our children," Lansdowne said.

The 4-year-old program sends a cadre of uniformed officers into schools citywide to teach kindergarteners through fifth-graders how to prevent drug use, gang affiliation, smoking and bullying. Dangers of the Internet and pedestrian awareness also are covered.

Chuck Lemoine, senior vice president and director of public relations for Wells Fargo, called the program "an outstanding example of community collaboration."

"When Wells Fargo learned of the program funding cuts, it was decided to step up and help," he said.

The donation was made through the nonprofit San Diego Police Foundation, which works to raise awareness of Police Department needs and secures support for efforts that enhance police and community relations, crime prevention and public safety.

School officials praised the wide-ranging program curriculum, which was developed by the San Diego Police Department. The program replaced D.A.R.E., a nationally recognized drug-abuse education program created for fifth-graders in 1983 by Los Angeles police officers.

Bayview Elementary Principal Mirna Estrada said police officers become "powerful teachers," bringing credibility to a classroom when talking about drugs, Internet safety or even the proper way to cross the street.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.