Logan County law enforcement officials are hoping to build stronger bonds with local youngsters with their new “Before the Badge” initiative.
Sheriff Randy Dodds and Family Court Judge Natasha Kennedy joined Sheriff Department Chaplain Gary Brown as he led the first of its kind assembly today at Indian Lake Middle School for 4th, 5th and 6th graders.
Brown explains the goal of this outreach is to impress upon young people that the vast majority of people in authority have good intentions and that exhibiting good behaviors at this point in life will serve them well as they grow into adulthood.
Brown told the students, “Maybe there is an area where you are struggling with rebelling against your parents or in your classroom and you’re not following the rules for whatever reason…If you will start behaving now, following rules, it will increase your chances of making better decisions when you are older and the consequences are much more severe.”
Brown asked for volunteers to play a Simon Says-style game called “Sheriff Says” where students had to listen carefully to his instructions. He also put on his referee jersey and officiated a short game of 3-on-3 basketball between students. The point of the game was to demonstrate that punishment for bad behavior and rewards for good behavior are not always immediate. At the conclusion, Brown's volunteers got to toss out bracelets and t-shirts to the crowd.
Indian Lake School officials say that the “Before the Badge” program aligns with the Lake Effect and E+R=O lessons that have been taught in our district for many years.
The finale of the assembly saw students cheering the loudest for the teacher or school official they wanted to see get handcuffed. 4th grade teacher Christi Warnecke was the winner!
The "Before the Badge" law enforcement group plans to follow up with 7th and 8th graders later this school year.