In Brighton, Boston, the Boston Police Department's District D-14 officers brought a touch of sweetness to the St. Columbkille Partnership School's Back to School event. As reported by the Boston Police Department's news site, the BPD's very own ice cream truck, backed up by contributions from HP Hood and the Boston Police Foundation, was dishing out free ice cream treats to the joy of students and faculty alike.

Looking to add a cool factor to the beginning of the academic year, the BPD ice cream truck not only provided a much-needed snack under the late summer sun but also allowed the police officers to informally engage with the local youth. It's an initiative to cheerfully endorse the start of what everyone hopes to be an 'epic' school year full of 'adventure and learning.'

The smiles brought by these simple yet well-received gestures are seen as small stepping stones towards building better community relations. Relations that, especially with the youth, have historically been strained in many urban settings across the nation. As highlighted in the event summary, this Back to School celebration stands as one of the many efforts by the local department to foster a more approachable and positive presence in the community they serve.

As students eagerly lined up to quickly get their share of the icy treats, officers were equally eager to serve up and get to better know the younger citizens of Brighton. The BPD fundamentally believes in such community engagements to potentially bridge gaps and in so doing, softly lay down the foundations of trust and mutual respect, in a context that is far removed from the daily turmoil of law enforcement and societal pressures. Here's to hoping that this academic year unfolds into one where the fabric of community is strengthened and the barriers of mistrust are persistently broken down.