It's not every day that the neighborhood police station sends out its finest to hang with the local youth, but that's just what happened in West Roxbury recently. In a community outreach effort that would likely warm the cockles of even the most hardened Bostonian's heart, officers from the Boston Police Department's District E-5 joined forces with a towering green mascot to bring smiles to the faces of children at the local YMCA. The event featured photo ops, safety education, and a dash of sports fandom.
As reported by the Boston Police Department's news blog, this friendly meet-up involved the officers interacting with summer campers and introducing them to Boston's beloved Red Sox mascot, Wally the Green Monster. Engaging with the kids, the officers combined fun and education, distributing BPD Safety Tip Coloring Books - which, I think it goes without saying, likely made more of an impression on the kids than a mere lecture. And lest we forget, each camper also snagged a Red Sox swim cap sure to become their new favorite poolside accessory.
We often speak about community policing and outreach, but here we have an example of what it looks like in action. "It was a great day of collaboration with our community partners," the Boston Police Department remarked on their blog. "We are here to support those we serve in any way we can!"
