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By Adam Foxman
Ventura County Star
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Thousand Oaks Police Department has a new program to convince kids that being a good citizen can be a pretty sweet deal.
Patrol deputies began giving out coupons in June for free 12-ounce Slurpees to kids spotted obeying laws and doing good deeds, police Sgt. Don Aguilar said. Children can redeem the coupons at 7-Eleven stores.
Wearing a bike helmet, walking in a crosswalk, picking up trash or reporting suspicious activities or crimes are examples of things that can earn kids one of the icy, syrupy drinks.
"It's not only telling children, 'Hey, you're doing a good job,' it's giving them a reward instantly for the good behavior," Aguilar said.
Named Operation Chill, the effort is a partnership between 7-Eleven and law enforcement agencies nationwide. This year, 7-Eleven gave Thousand Oaks police 1,000 coupons to distribute, Aguilar said. The department plans to hand them out through the end of the year.
The hope is that young people will associate the rewards with good behavior and repeat it in the future, Aguilar said. The program also is intended to foster positive relationships in the community by showing children and their parents that police are concerned about their safety, he said.
The convenience store chain introduced the program in 1996 in an effort to reduce crime and help police improve relations with young people during the summer, when graffiti, shoplifting and loitering often rise, according to 7-Eleven's Web site. The company has since distributed nearly 10 million Slurpee coupons.
Thousand Oaks police decided to participate this year after being approached by 7-Eleven, Aguilar said. The response has been positive so far, and police are already planning to continue Operation Chill next summer, he said.
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Wire Service
Ventura County Star
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Thousand Oaks Police Department has a new program to convince kids that being a good citizen can be a pretty sweet deal.
Patrol deputies began giving out coupons in June for free 12-ounce Slurpees to kids spotted obeying laws and doing good deeds, police Sgt. Don Aguilar said. Children can redeem the coupons at 7-Eleven stores.
Wearing a bike helmet, walking in a crosswalk, picking up trash or reporting suspicious activities or crimes are examples of things that can earn kids one of the icy, syrupy drinks.
"It's not only telling children, 'Hey, you're doing a good job,' it's giving them a reward instantly for the good behavior," Aguilar said.
Named Operation Chill, the effort is a partnership between 7-Eleven and law enforcement agencies nationwide. This year, 7-Eleven gave Thousand Oaks police 1,000 coupons to distribute, Aguilar said. The department plans to hand them out through the end of the year.
The hope is that young people will associate the rewards with good behavior and repeat it in the future, Aguilar said. The program also is intended to foster positive relationships in the community by showing children and their parents that police are concerned about their safety, he said.
The convenience store chain introduced the program in 1996 in an effort to reduce crime and help police improve relations with young people during the summer, when graffiti, shoplifting and loitering often rise, according to 7-Eleven's Web site. The company has since distributed nearly 10 million Slurpee coupons.
Thousand Oaks police decided to participate this year after being approached by 7-Eleven, Aguilar said. The response has been positive so far, and police are already planning to continue Operation Chill next summer, he said.
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