South Plainfield Police Department Teaming Up for Ice Pops with Cops Event

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – The South Plainfield Public Library and South Plainfield Police Department are teaming up again, this time for a free end of summer program scheduled to take place on Monday, Aug. 30. 

Local youth are invited to drop by Willow Park (located behind the library) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the ‘Ice Pops with Cops’ program. This drop in event will provide borough children the opportunity to cool off with an ice-cold treat and meet the department’s School Resource Officers (SROs), including Anthony Louise, Zack Melanson, and the newest member of the juvenile division, Rene Marte. 

“We will be there handing out ice pops and offering kids the opportunity to chat, ask questions, and get to know us in an informal setting,” Louise told TAPinto South Plainfield.  

Through a partnership with the South Plainfield School District, the police department’s SROs can be found in the buildings providing security, teaching classes – including Grant’s Law Enforcement Against Drugs (LEAD) program – and, most importantly, establishing a relationship with borough kids. 

“Our goal is to serve as a bridge between the police department, schools, and the community’s youth and an event like ‘Ice Pops with Cops’ will provide our children the opportunity to meet with the officers in a laid back setting,” said Louise, adding, “We didn’t have a lot of chances to interact with them during the previous school year and this event is a great opportunity for them to get out of the house and meet with us before returning to school.”

“Traditionally the library hosts an annual end of summer reading event, so this year we thought it might be nice to partner with our neighbors at the police department and do something that would allow the kids to have some fun with the officers,” said Linda Hansen, director of the South Plainfield Public Library. “This event is also a great opportunity to introduce our newest SRO, Officer Marte, to the community.”

“We are very appreciative of Linda and the library’s efforts to organize community events with us and promote our relationship with the children of South Plainfield,” said Louise, extending thanks to Hansen and the library’s staff for their commitment to work with the police department, including its juvenile unit, throughout the year. “It is a pleasure working with them, and I am looking forward to planning future events as well.” 

The Ice Pops with Cops end-of-summer program is free, however, to help prepare residents are asked to pre-register online. 

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Original article: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/south-plainfield/sections/police-and-fire/articles/south-plainfield-police-department-library-teaming-up-for-ice-pops-with-cops-event