Fourth-graders take part in Adopt-a-Cop

The Freeport Police Department hosted its highly anticipated annual Adopt-a-Cop event at the Freeport Recreation Center on June 14, bringing together enthusiastic fourth-grade students from various local public schools for a day filled with camaraderie, education and interaction with law enforcement professionals.

The now 27-year-old Adopt-a-Cop program promotes relationships between the Police Department and the community.

“Each class is assigned one to three officers who visit them multiple times throughout the year,” FPD Lt. Andrew Berg said. “The primary goal is to foster positive relations within the community, allowing the students to become familiar with the officers and understand that they are there to provide assistance. By dispelling fear and building trust, the program aims to create a sense of security and ensure that the students view the police as allies who are dedicated to helping and supporting them.”

The Adopt-a-Cop program was launched in 1996 after then Deputy Inspector Michael Woodward went to Bayview Avenue School to speak to the students about the Police Department. There was one 9-year-old girl who told Woodward she was afraid for her future. She “stated that if she found a gun she would keep it for protection as she feared dying because so many people have guns that she won’t be alive in 10 years,” Woodward wrote in a report to the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 1996.

What started with six dedicated police officers volunteering their time to connect with fourth-grade students at Bayview Avenue School has grown into a program involving nearly 30 Freeport police officers visiting all the fourth-grade classes across Bayview, New Visions, Giblyn, and Archer Street schools. The program aims to foster informal interaction and break down negative police stereotypes. It has flourished over the past two decades, leaving a positive impact on both the officers and the students.

The event held at the Freeport Recreation Center served as a grand finale to the year-long program. The Recreation Center provided a vibrant venue where all the fourth graders from different schools could come together before transitioning to fifth and sixth grade at Atkinson, the district-wide school.

The event kicked off with an exciting helicopter landing, courtesy of the Nassau County Police Department. Ensuring the children’s safety, the playground area was fenced off to separate them from the landing zone.

“It was kind of like a big kickoff, where it’s really like the first time that all the fourth graders are a single unit prior to going to fifth and sixth grade where they’ll be going to class together,” Berg said. 

The day was filled with engaging activities allowing the students to interact with various law enforcement agencies and explore different police resources. Representatives from the Freeport Police Department, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Marine Bureau, Nassau County Emergency Services Unit, Nassau County K-9 Unit, and Nassau County Mounted Unit showcased their vehicles, equipment, and expertise.

The children had the opportunity to ask questions, sit on police motorcycles, and learn about the functions and tools used by these units. The Northwell Health ambulance also participated, helping familiarize the children with emergency medical services.

Berg emphasized the flexibility of the activities based on each classroom’s needs. The program caters to the appropriate level of conversation for the students, ensuring a positive and informative experience. Some activities focus on informing students about safety protocols and seeking assistance from police officers in various situations. Others involve lighter interactions, such as arts and crafts or holiday-themed events like the Valentine’s Day celebration at Bayview.

“When I was assigned to Bayview that last day before the Christmas break we would sing Christmas carols and do arts and crafts,” Berg said. “These light-hearted and enjoyable activities were meant to create a fun atmosphere for the students. The program offers a wide range of activities and each visit throughout the year can be considered its own unique event” 

The Adopt-a-Cop program educates the students about law enforcement and aims to provide them with a memorable and enjoyable experience. Berg highlighted the importance of creating a fun and easy day for the students at the end of the school year as they prepare for summer break.

Looking ahead, the Freeport Police Department plans to continue the Adopt-a-Cop program, ensuring that future fourth-grade students will benefit from the initiative. 

“The Adopt A Cop program is an outstanding method to develop a comfortable and friendly relationship between our police officers and the fourth graders here in Freeport,” Mayor Robert Kennedy said.