| Freeport's Adopt-A-Cop Picnic Brings Kids and Police Officers to Recreation Center to Celebrate |
The Freeport Police Officers who volunteer in the Adopt-A-Cop Program spent Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at the Recreation Center enjoying a picnic with the hundreds of students from the district’s fourth grade classes celebrating another successful year.
Freeport’s Adopt-A-Cop Program was created by Police Chief Michael Woodward to encourage the students to develop an ongoing relationship with members of the police department. The youngsters “adopt” a police officer who volunteers to spend time with the students during the course of the school year, participating in the class events, and corresponding with the youngsters.
Over its 15 year history the program has been a great success. Freeport's program won national recognition from the United States Conference of Mayors in 2003.
Chief Woodward stated, “The officers act as reliable mentors and role models who help these students when they are faced with the difficult choices and challenges during their adolescent and teenage years.”
Freeport’s Mayor Andrew Hardwick praised the program by saying, “The Adopt-A-Cop project is a critical part of my zero tolerance on crime effort. It has been highly effective in helping young people, both boys and girls, steer clear of bad influences and violent activities, and it has my full support.” |
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