JohnnyReb said:
Exactly. It allows kids to interact with law enforcement in a positive way. I've had kids tell me "I hate cops because they take my mom's boyfriend away." That about broke my heart! Lets face it, how often does youth get to interact with the police under positive circumstances?
I try to keep my eye on the Newspaper. I have taken the boys over to Leonardtown a time or 2 when they had kind of an Open House kind of thing for Police Appreciation day and such.
The also have the K9 Demonstrations once in a while. The last time I went I think it was sponsored by the 4-H club at the fairground. Somehow the event got flubbed up and the correct time was not put out in the right postings until the last minute. I think me and the boys were the only one's that showed at the proper time. I believe there were 6-8 officers and 3-4 K-9s. You know those folks still went through their entire display even though there were only the 3 of us there. Other than the 4-H people. May have been 15-20 people total. Unfortunately they had to cut it short as there was a call for a man walking down the street with a gun in Golden Beach. (Dunno how I still remember that.)
But I like to introduce my boys to an officer every chance I get and can catch one standing somewhere. They love sitting the boys in the cars and letting them look at all the gadgetry and such. I want my boys to know clear and simple that the police are there for "YOU" and don't be afraid to show your appreciation.
The EX wife makes some great Sweet Potatoe Pies. Last fall while she was making a batch the youngest asked her to make some extra. When I got them that weekend he brought 4 of them. We plowed through one and I sugggested we gave the others to an officer. We drove over to Sheetz later as I knew Summerville would be doing security there. We gave him the pies and he said he would take them to the shift brief for the others to share. My son still tells that story and I hope he continues with that willingness to show some appreciation.
