Operation Cool Down Rewards Kids

By Capt. Lisa Wright, Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office

The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office would like to reward kids 12 and under for being safe and playing by the rules.

Under Operation Cool Down deputies will target kids 12 and under who are having fun while practicing safe behavior and abiding by the law. If a deputy spots a child wearing a protective helmet while riding a bike or skateboard, a life jacket while on the water, or obeying pedestrian or other rules, that young citizen will be stopped and issued a reward. And what is that reward? Each child will receive a ticket for one free ice cream cone.

This project will not only promote safety for children but will provide deputies the chance to work with children in a positive manner. This will give children the incentive to abide by the rules and provide an opportunity to meet their local deputies.  Children will learn that deputies are there for their protection.

All deputies will be given an allotted amount of these tickets which have been donated by McDonalds and will be encouraged to look out and approach these kids that meet these criteria or caught doing good acts of kindness.

Under Operation Paparazzi deputies will take pictures of kids being safe while with their parents.  With parental consent these pictures will be posted on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for additional commendation and incentive to those practicing safe and law abiding behavior.

The program begins July 1 and ends August 31, 2013.