The Lakewood Police Department D.A.R.E. Unit will be conducting its DARE basketball tournament for fifth grade students on Saturday, April 16th, 2016. The tournament begins at 9:00 a.m, and the final game will start at 2:00 p.m.  This year’s tournament will be held at Garfield Middle School located at 13114 Detroit.  Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.

Teams from each of Lakewood’s seven public elementary schools will be competing against each other in a single elimination tournament format.  The teams are coached voluntarily by staff members or parents from each school, while the tournament itself is staffed entirely by Lakewood police officers.

Uniform t-shirts are provided for the players and coaches through donations given by various Lakewood businesses. Concessions at the tournament will be provided by Lakewood Athletic Boosters.

This year, the Lakewood Division of Police is partnering with the Lakewood Community Services Center  to collect food/hygiene products between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm in the lobby during the tournament. Students and Officers will be collecting the items which will then be donated to the Lakewood Community Services Center. Attendees who brings a donation will receive one raffle ticket to win a prize.