We sometimes see children playing “cops and robbers” in their front yard. Often arguing who’s going to be the good guy/gal and who’s going to be the bad guy/gal. What if we could adopt a cop and bring him home to play.
Falls Township Police launched a new community initiative with the Pennsbury School District, where children can vote to adopt a cop.
“We are thrilled to announce the implementation of our latest community initiative, which is designed to strengthen the relationship between our police, the school district, and our community’s youth,” said Lt. Chris Clark.
Adopt A Cop is a program where 16 officers, eight from each rotating daywork squad, will be advertised for adoption to each school in the Pennsbury School District. Posters and ballots have been provided to all schools.
Elementary school students will use a paper ballot to vote for their chosen police officer. High School and Village Park Academy students will vote via a QR Code set up for electronic balloting.
The voting began Wednesday, September 27, and will end on Wednesday, October 4. Once voting has ended, the votes will then be counted, and the adoptees will be announced on Monday, October 9.
An adoption ceremony will celebrate the announcement during which the adopted officer will receive a certificate from the school’s principal formally adopting them.
Upon being adopted, the officer will introduce himself/herself to support staff, teachers, and students. The officer will obtain information regarding lunch periods, recess to name a few, and to discuss plans to visit the school without interrupting the learning environment.
Adopted officers will also conduct school walkthroughs, greet the students as they arrive and depart for the day, monitor school zones and make themselves available to any teacher who requests speaking to a student or a class on a law enforcement related topic, as well as any student who has a need, question or concern, officials said.
“Our officers and the Pennsbury School District are very excited about the mutual sense of ownership and personalized commitment this adoptive relationship will bring” Clark said.
“We wish the best of luck to all of our officers as they compete for adoption, no matter the outcome, they will all receive a good home!”
