While most officers spend their time hunting down lawbreakers, members of the Sturgis, Michigan police department have been ordered to do the exact opposite: Find the city's law-abiding citizens.
The Sturgis Police Department is giving out between 250 and 300 "citations" to children who are caught "being safe," says Lt. Damon Knapp. In addition to the business card-sized ticket -- which praises the recipient for being a good citizen -- officers also hand out such rewards as ice cream and apple slices, Knapp says.
“It gives us interactions that aren’t negative and sets us up for positive contact for the community,” Knapp says. "Ten years down the road you never know they’re not scared to come to us. I’m not just a stranger with a badge and a gun anymore or somebody who may have arrested their parents."
Should other police departments follow Sturgis' lead?
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