Capt. Robert Harris and Deputy Jeff Dixon from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Dept. with Dairy Queen assistant manager, Patti Phelps and Deputy Chief Charles McMichael from the Greenfield Police Dept.
GREENFIELD — With the temperature around 90 degrees and the sun beating down, a couple of local law enforcement officials stopped off at the local Dairy Queen in Greenfield recently. However, they were not there to get a cool treat. Instead, they went there to pick up coupons to pass out to county kids so they could get either a free Dilly bar or ice cream cone this summer.
As part of a wider program to help build community relationships and reward kids for good behavior, officials from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department and Greenfield Police Department partnered with Dairy Queen officials to pass ice summer treats to area children through fall.
“It’s always great to build stronger relationships in the community through these programs,” said deputy Jeff Dixon. “Little things make a big difference.”
Dixon organized the giveaway this summer for officials from Dairy Queen and noted it’s a good partnership. Dixon was joined by Capt. Robert Harris, public information officer for the HCSD and Deputy Chief Charles McMichael from the GPD to kick off the program.
“We always want the kids to be safe on their bicycles, wearing their safety helmets, crossing the streets and intersections where they are supposed to, so when we see kids doing what they should, we want to reward them, raise awareness and improve community relationships,” Harris said.
McMichael noted that officials from the GPD have done this type of program before and find the giveaways to be a great way of connecting with children and the community. McMichael said the GPD will also work with Speedway to give away coupons for a small Slurpee for kids who they see behave well this summer.
“It’s called Club Chill,” McMichael said. “It’s very similar to what’s being done with Dairy Queen. When we see a kid doing something good, something they should, we want to reward them.”
McMichael and the other law enforcement officials noted that engaging children, showing them law enforcement is on their side and rewarding them for good behavior is a positive thing.
“We want to show kids in this community that officers and deputies are good people and we’re just like everyone else,” McMichael said.
Earlier this year, officials from the GPD gave out coupons through their “No Ticket, Let’s Fix It” initiative instead of handing out citations to drivers with a busted tail-light or non-working headlight to help them get the issue fixed.
“We still have those coupons ($25) and they’re good to fix any light outside of the vehicle,” McMichael said. “So instead of getting a ticket for a violation, the offender gets a chance to get the issue fixed and that helps make our roadways safer.”
That’s similar to a program officials with the HCSD do when a deputy finds a driver with a car seat that isn’t working properly. Harris noted the HCSD will give drivers a certificate to go and get a properly working car seat for free installed for their child.
“They can go to one of the places we have certified that will give them a properly working car-seat,” Harris said. “They can get a free car seat and or get their’s installed properly and their warning ticket will go away.”
It’s all part of local law enforcement trying to help community members, officials say.
As for the ice cream giveaway, the Greenfield Dairy Queen assistant manager, Patti Phelps, noted there is nothing better than being able to give away free ice cream to kids in the summertime.
“I like seeing those smiles and seeing the kids engage with the police officers,” Phelps said.
