You're probably wondering what this is all about, and it is a great pleasure that get to share this story with you. I work at The Well at Sunnyside in the summer for the Kid's Cafe program. The kids that come to this program are all from different areas of life. Some of which are terrified of law enforcement because of previous events in their young lives.
It has been a dream of mine, and two of my other co-workers, to have the police department here in WCH have a relationship with these kids. After summers of attempting to build this friendship, it finally happened.
Last Friday, three police officers, Mat, Adam, and Trent, came to The Well for Kid's Cafe. They were dressed in normal clothes- t-shirts and shorts, and brought a football. They introduced themselves as volunteers, which the kids were used to, so they didn't think anything of it. They had no idea these men were in law enforcement. Mat, Adam, and Trent got a huge game of back yard football going and the kids loved them. They considered these guys their friends from the start. Little did they know, there was more to them than they realized.
Fast forward to the next Wednesday. We're all outside, and a police cruiser pulls up and turns on its sirens. Some of the kids, terrifed of the police, all for different reasons, ran to the back of the yard. Some even went inside the building. All were curious why the cops were there and who was in trouble.
The doors open and three guys step out of the cruiser. Mat, Adam, and Trent. The kids quickly realize that the same guys who were here just last week playing football with them were actually police officers.
The looks on their faces were priceless. The kids began to realize that the only difference in their new friends was the clothes they were wearing--the uniforms. They understood now that police officers are people outside of their job and that they are perfectly capable of having friendships with them.
The way the officers cared for these kids and took the time to build friendships with them was heart-warming and beautiful. Before this, these kids didn't consider law enforcement friends. They saw them as the people who were around when bad things happen...now they realize that is all wrong.
We all see and know about the horrible events happening in the world when it comes to law enforcement. We constantly hear about the "bad cops" on social media and on the news. But I'm here to tell you that is not the case when it comes to all cops. There are police officers who are taking time out of their days to build friendships with 60 kids in a summer lunch program.
So thank you Mat, Adam, and Trent for your kind hearts and your love for kids. This is something these kiddos will never forget. And thank you Washington Court House Police Department for teaming up with us to make this happen. We can't thank you enough.
