UP CLOSE -- MIKE BECKER

* FAMILY STATUS: Single -- son, Doug, is 19 years old

* AGE: 49

* EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Redlands

University

* PAST OFFICES HELD: Canine unit, undercover police officer, detective,

field training officer and hostage negotiations

* PRESENT OCCUPATION: Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer with

the Fountain Valley Police Department

* EXPLAIN YOUR JOB IN 15 WORDS OR FEWER: I visit schools in Fountain

Valley and Huntington Beach to teach the DARE project in fifth through

eighth grades.

* YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: Being a great father and teaching DARE

* PERSONAL MOTTO: Honesty is the best policy

* MOST HUMBLING MOMENT: Receiving the Officer of the Year Award at the

Fountain Valley Police Department

* YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE: Eating healthy and exercising

* MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOK YOU’VE READ: Books in the Focus on the Family

series

* WHAT CASSETTE OR COMPACT DISC IS IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW? Jimmy Buffet

and Christian music by Carmen

* YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION: Photo album

* WHICH WORDS OR PHRASE DO YOU OVERUSE? “Buddy” and “it’s OK”

* WHAT CAN YOU COOK? Just about everything, but I love barbecuing fish

and chicken

* A HABIT YOU WISH YOU COULD CONTROL: Not feeling guilty about missing a

workout

* THE COLLEGE MAJOR YOU ALMOST CHOSE: Aviation

* YOUR LAST CHARITABLE ACT: Returned personal property I found that

someone lost

* AS A CHILD, WHAT DID SCHOOLMATES TEASE YOU ABOUT? My height, because I

was very short

* WHAT IS IN YOUR CAR TRUNK RIGHT NOW? Compact discs

* WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN VOTED IN HIGH SCHOOL: Most unlikely to go into

lawenforcement

* WHO ARE YOUR HEROES? I have a lot of people that I respect and confide

in, but no one person that I put on a pedestal.

* FAVORITE ESCAPE FROM REALITY: The gym or a bike ride

* ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD IF YOU COULD: That all

children could live in a safe, happy and fun environment

* YOUR IDEA OF EXERCISE: Biking, lifting weights and stretching

* WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR APPEARANCE? Losing my gray hair

* I HAVE A DREAM THAT: People would find their faith

* PHONE OR ADDRESS WHERE PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU: Fountain Valley Police

Department, 10200 Slater Ave. 593-4423