RPD Hopes Playtime Builds a Stronger Community
By: Cierra Putman
Updated: November 27, 2012
Some Rochester police are trading their guns for Play-do and games. For the first time, police are teaming up with a program that promotes adults playing with grade schoolers.
Generation Two is a decade old program that pairs adults with kids in schools in and around Rochester.
Supporters say the program cuts down on disciplinary problems and boosts attendance.
RPD hopes by sending 13 officers to be volunteers it will also boost police and community relations.
"We're human beings ourselves and we're here to help," volunteer officer Sgt. Daniel Zimmerman said. "Taking people to jail isn't our only job."
On Tuesday at RCSD School No. 3 Zimmerman showed up for the first time in his uniform to Kindergartner Jayvion's surprise.
"I like it," said Jayvion.
His family had a positive experience with police. Officers helped them on a very scary night.
"My house was on fire," he said."I like police officers. (My parents) say they like police officers. And they like them when they save us."
That's not the case for other city kids. Some only see police when something bad happens - like when a family member is under arrest.
It's why Zimmerman showed up in plain clothes the first few weeks he worked with the G2 program.
Now that the kids know him, he hopes the uniform doesn't matter.
In the long run, he hopes it makes it easier for the kids to stay out of trouble and approach police when they grow up.
"Hopefully that one person goes out and talk to his friends and let them know, 'Hey the police aren't bad,'" Zimmerman said. "Maybe he can talk his friends out of being in trouble. You know a little pyramid effect."
Rochester police and Generation Two also visit Schools No. 4 and 36 in the City of Rochester. Volunteers spend 30 minutes a week with kids in kindergarten thru second grade.
