APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Appleton Police are bringing local kids toys on ride-alongs for the next week, as a part of a community-engagement effort.
It’s a Toy Story of adventures (probably without the toys talking back?) to show kids what officers do while out on duty. It’s the second year of a partnership with Appleton’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“Last Friday, kids of Appleton dropped off their favorite toy at Park & Rec, and they delivered them to us [Tuesday] morning at APD!” said Lieutenant Meghan Cash. “The toy gets to ride along with their assigned officer for the week and go on all sorts of missions and adventures…We capture all of that in photos, they had a briefing with the chief [Tuesday] morning, and we’re hoping to share some of that on social media.”
At the end of the week, each child receives a certificate with photos and a recap of what their toy got to do. Cash says it’s not just the kids who love it either.
“It puts smiles on the officers faces, just as much as it does the child who sent their toy here to spend some time with us,” Cash told WTAQ News.
Cash says those program provides an important look into the regular life of officers in the city, especially to local youth.
“In a world right now that seems so uncertain, we wanted to find a safe way to interact with them. Maybe we can’t bring them in the building themselves, but we can document something fun for them to really still get an understanding of what officers do on a daily basis,” Cash said.
You can keep up with the toys on the Appleton Police Department’s Facebook page.
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