A neighborhood foot beat on the evening of August 3, 2015, in the area of the San Fernando Gardens housing complex in Foothill Division featured a new twist when Officers Anthony Lopez and Jesus Rico handed out ice cream treats, mostly to the children.
Residents were very pleasantly surprised that police were there, not because they were called, but because they wanted to connect with people on a more social level. “These officers spent their own money,” said the Foothill watch commander, Lieutenant Lou Vince. “No one asked them to do that.” Judging from the smiles on the children’s faces, the officers were a big hit.
Though building community relationships with ice cream cones may seem unusual, it’s actually very much in line with LAPD goals to reach out to the many diverse people and areas within the Department’s jurisdiction on a more friendly, personal level. Anything officers can do to positively interact with those they serve, especially youth, has the potential to make a difference and foster a mutual understanding. After all, everyone…kids, adults and police officers, has a unique story to tell, and perhaps one day the children who enjoyed ice cream from the cops will look back and relate that experience to others, including their own children.
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