Waukegan police take toys on patrol to bolster community bonds; ‘It shows officers as real people'
Some Waukegan police officers had a different sort of partner on patrol with them last month — inanimate objects like teddy bears and soccer balls lent to the department by city youths.
Sgt. Alejos Villalobos said some officers staged traffic stops with the toys, or made it look like they were helping deal with evidence. In one case, the item accompanied the officer to the shooting range.
'They did some staging with the toys,' Villalobos said. 'It gave them a chance to get out of their routine as patrol officers. Some of the officers were having fun with it.'
The officers were participating in the fifth-annual Toy Ride Along Program jointly operated by the police department and the Waukegan Park District through much of May, where children's toys become partners of the city police.
Jonathan Cochrane, a recreation specialist with the Park District who operates the program, said children of all ages were asked to bring a favorite toy to the Fieldhouse Sports, Fitness and Aquatics Center by May 8.
Once the toys were collected, Cochrane said they were taken to the police department, where they were assigned to a 'partner' with whom they rode along in a squad car for as long as two weeks before going back to the Park District and the children.
Participating children then received more than the return of the stuffed animal, sports equipment or other possession. Cochrane said there was a 'goodie bag' from the police filled with pictures and other mementoes.
'They got pictures in the bag so they could see where their toys were, and how they were used,' Cochrane said. 'This is a good collaborative effort between the police and the Park District. It's a really cool idea.'
Along with the pictures, Villalobos said the youngsters received a certificate from the police documenting the occasion, a rubber police car, sticker badges for a 'junior police officer' and more.
Police Commander George Valko of the Community Policing Division, said the program helps develop a relationship with the youth in the community at a young age. They are entrusting something of importance to them to a member of the police department.
'The toy means a lot to these kids,' Valko said. 'It could be a baby doll they've had all their lives. It means a lot to our officers to take care of it. It's good for our community to be part of this. It shows a different side of the officers, too.'
Officers volunteer to take the toys on a 'ride-along.' Villalobos said different departments, like patrol, criminal investigation and community policing, all get involved. The program started when the COVID pandemic limited ways police could interact with community members.
Community relations is another important ingredient to the program. Valko said that at some point, a person may remember the officer with his or her toy from the pictures and see them around town.
'They might talk about it,' Valko said. 'It serves as a bridge to the community. It shows officers as real people.'
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