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The Brockville Police Service is committed to forming interactive partnerships with the community. The purpose of the Adopt-A-Cop program is to enhance the Brockville community, and in particular, secondary school students and staff with a greater understanding of the role of police officers. This program also initiates proactive dialogue and active listening to strengthen relationships between students, teachers and the police. Adopt-A-Cop involves police officers working in partnership with principals and teachers towards effective problem solving in matters of mutual concern, and will provide positive role models for students. Officers have volunteered as Adopt-A-Cops for Youth Centre, YMCA, and each of our secondary schools.
The duties of the officer taking part are not restricted, but are intended to be a combination of the following: communicate with students and staff in corridors or classrooms, attend lunch hour and special functions, and conduct walkabouts of the school. The police officer will also provide advice and assistance ( if asked ) to students, parents, teachers and school administration.
The schools and their administration will become an integral part of the Adopt-A-Cop program. The principal or vice principal will become the liaison for the police officers involved in the program, and will provide an appropriate location for the officer to use while at the school. Whenever possible, staff at the school will promote the program to students, and will provide suggestions which may enhance its potential success.
This program involving Thousand Islands Secondary School, Brockville Collegiate Institute, St. Mary School and the Youth Centre, involving one officer from each platoon of the Brockville Police Service has been implemented. Each officer commits to a minimum of one hour per day each day shift when school is operational, and attends the school in accordance with their arrangements with the school's principal.
The Brockville Police Service Adopt-A-Cop program is an example of proactive community based policing, and has proven very successful. In working together, we all become "Partners For a Safe & Healthy Community"
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