-- —
Some parents ask police officers to “scare” unruly children. A mom or dad can’t get a small child to behave and the police officer is asked to sternly warn the child that misbehavior leads to jail.
Many police officers will refuse such a request. Many will say they don’t want the view of a police officer as the bad guy to be a small child’s introduction to law-enforcement.
With the experiences of the past few days, many children have come to realize there are plenty of bad guys in the world, but the police are the good guys. The police do what they can to save people and sometimes they have to try making sense of all of the broken pieces.
So, there is something especially poignant this year to see area police officers helping youngsters pick out toys for Christmas.
There is something particularly special in Monday’s Eighth Annual Shop With A Cop introducing police officers as good guys to area children.
During the event, several area children met at Walmart at 3274 Inner Perimeter Road, received Walmart gift cards, and partnered with law-enforcement officers to shop.
Several children benefited from this year’s Shop With A Cop program. These children will come away with a new impression of law-enforcement.
“Not only does this event benefit the students, who get a little extra help during the holiday season, but it also shows these kids a different side of law-enforcement officers,” Valdosta Police Department Officer Vernotis Williams has said in the past. “Kids have a tendency to see us as bad. Through this program, they have the opportunity to see us as people they can approach.”
For all they normally do, and helping Santa Claus, too, kids learn that police officers are indeed the good guys throughout the year in all kinds of times of need.
What We Think
Good guys throughout the year
- What We Think
-
-
Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Dr. John Gaston, retiring dean of Valdosta State University’s College of the Arts. For the past 10-plus years, Gaston has worked to build a more interconnected program with various artistic and communications departments working together. Given that you are likely to see one College of the Arts department collaborating with another during events is proof of Gaston’s success.
-
On the go this weekend
Take a breath.
-
Sharing the roads with motorcycles
With the recent pleasant temperatures and sunny skies, the number of motorcycles on area roads has increased.
-
Thank your local law enforcement today
Today, May 15, was designated Peace Officers Memorial Day back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy was in office.
-
Visit musical roots this weekend
Beginning Saturday, May 18, Nashville, Ga., will be hosting a special Smithsonian exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.” The exhibit will continue through the end of June and Nashville has done a tremendous job in promoting and planning for the exhibit.
-
Happy Mother’s Day!
A few years ago, a television commercial asked, Who first believed in you? Many folks may have instinctively answered by simply saying, Mom.
-
Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To mail workers, volunteers and food bank staff for gathering food for the annual Stamp Out Hunger postal food drive today. A plastic bag designated for canned goods and other non-perishable food items should have arrived in your mailbox earlier this week. If you haven’t already, take a few moments to fill the bag with food and hang from your mailbox. If you didn’t receive the special Stamp Out Hunger bag, any plastic bag filled with food will do. This food drive helps feed thousands of South Georgians annually. Valdosta-Lowndes County often donates more food than nearly all other cities and counties in Georgia.
-
Celebrating nurses
She is considered the founder of modern nursing so it seems only natural that National Nurses Week would include Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
-
Helping the hungry: Mail it in!
Valdosta-Lowndes County continues revealing its generous spirit.
-
New school scoring system
The first year of any new program is always a tough one.
- More What We Think Headlines
-
Thumbs up, thumbs down
