Grayslake District 46 board member pushes idea of cops and kids connecting

Grayslake Elementary District 46 board member David Northern says he was so impressed after learning of one suburban police department's program to connect officers to young students in a casual setting, he decided to promote a similar idea for his school system.

District 46 is looking at modeling the Adopt-a-Cop program launched by Hawthorn Woods police in 2005. Hawthorn Woods day-shift officers volunteer to be with third-graders in the classroom, on the playground or even on field trips regularly during an academic year at village schools.

"Education is a big component of teaching individuals about police and also teaching police about community and individuals working as a team," Northern said.

Northern, who also heads the Lake County Housing Authority, learned about the Hawthorn Woods initiative when he hosted leaders in his agency's community room for a discussion about race issues in the suburbs nearly two weeks ago. Hawthorn Woods Police Chief Jennifer Paulus, Lake County Undersheriff Raymond J. Rose, U.S. Rep. Robert Dold and others were part of the roundtable.

As the group focused on building trust between police officers and communities, Paulus mentioned the Adopt-a-Cop program she began after getting the top job in 2005.

Northern said he thought Paulus was on to something, which is why he told his District 46 colleagues about the Hawthorn Woods program. District officials said they are exploring the idea of Grayslake Middle School and Avon Center School in Round Lake Beach linking with police who serve the buildings to start a version of Adopt-a-Cop.

"We are truly just in the planning stages," District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll said. "(Middle school Principal) Marcus Smith and David Northern have had initial talks with the Grayslake police but nothing formal as yet. We would also work with Round Lake Beach police to replicate whatever we plan there as well."

It's more important than ever for police to form a good relationship with children, Northern said.

"The incidents occurring around the country are disturbing," he said. "If we grasp the opportunity to educate our children and their families, it will result in positive outcomes and decrease the likelihood of those types of incidents occurring in our district."

Paulus said she began Adopt-a-Cop in the schools 11 years ago because she believed there was no relationship between Hawthorn Woods police and the community.

Unlike the Drug Awareness Resistance Education - DARE - program that previously brought officers into schools, she said, Adopt-a-Cop occurs in a casual setting without an agenda.

Each officer is paired with a teacher from a third-grade

class at Spencer Loomis Elementary School and St. Matthew Lutheran School in Hawthorn Woods.

At minimum, the Hawthorn Woods officers make one classroom visit and another to lunch or recess per month. They are encouraged to attend class events, parties and field trips.

Paulus said third grade was chosen because research shows 8- and 9-year-old children start becoming aware of the world around them and can develop a positive rapport with police officers outside of a more threatening or confrontational atmosphere, such as a domestic violence call to their house or a car crash.

Officers address a range of topics, including gangs, peer pressure and what a typical workday is like.

"The officers really enjoy the interaction they have with the kids," she said. "I personally participate in the program and look forward to my visits. I'm not a movie star or superhero, but it does feel pretty good when a bunch of third-graders are asking for your autograph. I like the fact that there is no set agenda or curriculum, so we can have pertinent discussions about whatever is going on in their world at the time. They get to learn from us, and I have learned a lot from them."

Rose said school initiatives, such as the Hawthorn Woods Adopt-a-Cop, allow police to show they are more guardians than warriors.

He said it's incumbent on law enforcement to become proactive in finding solutions to stem negative perceptions.

"We have to extend our hand to the community," Rose said, "and we have to sit down and talk and interact. And with kids, it's very, very important because that's the first place where we start looking at how do people perceive us, what was the interaction they remember that made it a positive thing when they saw the police."