(CHATHAM-KENT, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is once again teaching kids that getting caught ‘doing the right thing’ this summer can be cool.
Through a partnership with Mac’s Convenience Stores, OPP officers who see young people doing random acts of kindness and exhibiting positive behaviour will be handing out ‘tickets’, which are actually coupons valid for a free Froster beverage at Mac’s.
Operation Freeze 2014 provides law enforcement officials with an additional tool to initiate conversation and promote community awareness. During the upcoming summer months, OPP officers across the province will be presenting thousands of these coupons to kids.
Officers will use Operation Freeze to recognize youth for wearing bicycle helmets; doing good deeds like picking up trash; observing crosswalks and participating in community activities. They can also be used as conversation starters to help establish a rapport with kids in their patrol areas.
“Any opportunity that police officers have to interact with young people is an excellent way to open up conversation and develop a rapport with them,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, Provincial Commander for Traffic Safety and Operational Support. “When police officers work with local businesses to recognize youth, positive things can happen. Partnerships like the ones made during Operation Freeze can leave a lasting impression on our youth and make our communities better places to live.”
“Mac’s is once again proud to partner with the OPP on this important initiative that gives kids a chance to show they do care about their communities,” said Sean Sportun – Manager, Loss Prevention & Security for Mac’s. “Crime prevention is important to us and when young people show positive behaviour, we want to reward them.”