GLOUCESTER — (Videos, Photos) Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Interim Police Chief John McCarthy, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Richard Safier are pleased to announce the launch of the “KOPS-N-KIDS” program, which will deploy the Gloucester police officers to visit each of the city’s elementary schools and spend time with students, giving them a chance to see police officers in a fun and friendly setting and understand that the police officers are there to help them whenever they’re in need.
The city officials, elementary school principals, and Gloucester police officers involved in the program hosted kickoff event Friday, April 28, at 11:40 a.m. at the West Parish School,
After a successful pilot program earlier this year at one school, Chief McCarthy said the “KOPS-N-KIDS” initiative is expanding to all elementary schools and added that most of the officers on the day shift have volunteered for the program.
The officers will make two visits to each school, where they’ll serve the students’ lunches and spend time getting to know them and building positive and lasting relationships.
Officers will visit schools on the following dates:
West Parish School
• Friday, April 27
• Wednesday, May 24
East Gloucester School
• Monday, May 15
• Wednesday, June 7
Veterans Memorial School
• Wednesday, May 10
• Tuesday, June 13
Plum Cove School
• Wednesday, May 17
• Monday, June 5
Beeman School
• Monday, May 8
• Tuesday, June 20
The program is being coordinated by Sgt. Jeremiah Nicastro, who also reached out to the Gloucester High School graphics class to solicit ideas for a logo for the program. High school senior Eric Cameron’s design featuring an officer holding hands with two children was one that Interim Chief McCarthy said perfectly reflects the spirit of the program.
