Lunch with a Cop was implemented into the district to help young students become more comfortable with local police officers, ask them questions, and meet new friendly faces.
PENNSVILLE TWP. -- Second-grader Connor Wariwanchick admired the police badge pinned on his new friend's uniform Monday morning at Central Park Elementary School.
Connor, 7, and his fellow classmates welcomed Pennsville Patrolman Zack Inman to their lunch period as they learned about police duties, and shared their own school news in return as part of a new program in the district's elementary schools.
Lunch with a Cop was implemented into the district to help young students become more comfortable with local police officers, ask them questions, and meet new friendly faces.
"They're good guys -- they arrest bad people," Connor said, adding that he wants to be a cop when he grows up.
Throughout the school year, officers from the Pennsville Police Department will make their way to eight of the lunch periods in the three elementary schools -- Penn Beach, Central Park and Valley Park schools.
Whether kids talked about school, birthday gifts, family, or cop duty, the lunch was filled with enthusiastic discussion.
"I feel it's important for the young kids in the community to recognize that officers are human beings with things that are happening in the world," Police Chief Allen J. Cummings said.
"Young kids watch the news and with the media, they can see all the bad things that happen. We want to spend time with them, socializing and letting them ask questions," Cummings continued.
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Many schools throughout the state have invested in school resource officers who work within the schools, daily, to not only patrol the buildings, but really get to know the students and enhance the feeling of safety.
While Pennsville School District doesn't have school resource officers, the local police department has their own method for patrolling the district.
Security at the high and middle schools is enforced with sporadic check-ins by officers on a daily basis, in addition to routine morning and after school patrols, according to Cummings.
"It's very important to give schools as much security as possible," the chief said, adding that by going into the younger grade levels, students can become more comfortable and less scared of police officers.
"You want kids to be able to come up to a police man if they need, and not be afraid," Cummings continued.
Eight-year-old Angeline Hall was very impressed with Patrolman Inman's badge and other police gadgets.
"They help people out. I like the handcuffs so bad people don't get away," Angeline said.
This new program provides an informal way for students to get the local law enforcement officers and create opportunities to establish a bond which is important for the entire community, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mike Brodzik.
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"We want our kids to feel comfortable around these officers and look up to them as a resource. The board of education appreciates this initiative from Chief Cummings and the time that our officers are spending with kids," Brodzik said.
These officers rotate and spend one lunch period during their on-duty shift with a school.
Heightening safety and building relationships with law enforcement has been ongoing throughout South Jersey.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Department instituted a Lunch With a Cop program as well two years ago, which has since been a success, according to Sheriff Robert Austino.
"Kids are very receptive and this gives them a chance to see us in a different light," Austino said.
Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.