Hollister
– The Hollister Police Department is teaming up with local
7-Eleven stores to begin
”
Operation Chill,
”
a program focusing on youth safety and enhancing relations among
police and youth.
Hollister – The Hollister Police Department is teaming up with local 7-Eleven stores to begin “Operation Chill,” a program focusing on youth safety and enhancing relations among police and youth.
The program will allow police officers to “ticket” youths wearing appropriate safety gear while on bicycles, skates, skateboards or scooters. But unlike those dreaded traffic tickets, these “tickets” are good for a free 12-ounce Slurpee or carbonated beverage at any participating 7-Eleven store. Police officials hope the program will encourage youths to wear the proper safety gear, which can prevent accidents and save lives, said Officer Rosie Betanio, a spokeswoman for the police department.
“They probably think it’s not cool,” Betanio said. “They probably think it doesn’t happen but it can happen to anyone.”
The 7-Eleven franchise started “Operation Chill” to give law enforcement an opportunity for more positive interaction with local youths. The choice to participate fell squarely in the hands of the police department, Betanio said.
Betanio said injuries can be severe. Some youths have been hit by vehicles while crossing the street, she said. Sheriff’s Deputy Rich Brown, the San Benito school resource officer, said motivation for participating in such activities as skateboarding may be an adrenaline rush or a fear factor. The rush can lead to participants ignoring safety precautions, he said.
“There’s a certain feeling of invincibility,” Brown said.
Brown said he has been working with skateboarders at Daniel Yetter Memorial Skate Park to police themselves in terms of safety equipment.
“They’re starting to take responsibility for the park themselves,” Brown said.
Betanio and Brown agreed the lack of safety equipment seen on Hollister’s youths is cause for major concern. Brown does his part when he sees safety being ignored.
“Whenever I see it I tell them to knock it off and go get a minimum of a helmet,” Brown said.
Officials hope the program will also allow officers to interact with Hollister youths in a non-law enforcement environment, helping to create positive relations between Hollister youths and officers.
There will be one ticket issued per shift, at three shifts per day until the end of February, Betanio said. That should make for 360 free brain freezes by the end of February.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335, or [email protected].
