Stay sharp out there kids; the fuzz has its eye out for good behaviour and prizes to hand out when they see it.
Const. Jarett Duncan of the Ucluelet RCMP has launched a Positive Ticketing Program that aims to encourage positive behaviour through positive results.
“It’s just another way to extend our appreciation to people in the community that do follow the rules, that do good things and are good role models in the community,” he said.
“This is something that will help to change that stigma of police. It’s always seen as a negative thing, unfortunately, when police arrive so, hopefully, this will slowly change that stigma and bridge that gap of trust and relationships with community members and police.”
He said the idea of the RCMP catching kids doing good things and rewarding them was first struck by police on the mainland about a decade ago and he’s excited to see it happen locally.
“I’m not reinventing the wheel, I’m basically just taking that wheel and extending it out to Ucluelet,” he said.
Duncan reached out to the local business community to generate possible prizes and was not surprised to see businesses step up to produce an impressive bounty. Any kid who receives a ticket will be entitled to: a free ice-cream cone at Gray Whale Deli, a free round of Mini-Golf at Long Beach Golf Course and a free visit to the Ucluelet Aquarium.
“We couldn’t have done it without these three partners,” Duncan said. “It’s local businesses again stepping up to the plate and helping us out.”
Aquarium curator Laura Griffith-Cochrane said she was delighted to pitch in.
“We think it’s a great initiative. We’re really excited to be a part of it,” she said. “We’re excited to support the community that’s been such a big support for us and to be a resource for any youth that want to come in here and learn.”
She added the program could help brighten the community with some much needed positivity.
“I think it’s easy for us to get really focused on negative things sometimes, especially in this busy time of year. Focusing on the positive and rewarding good behaviours is a good way to achieve our goals…Like road awareness, cleaning up after our dogs and supporting each other.”
To score a ticket, local youth are encouraged to wear their helmets whenever they’re skateboarding or riding their bikes and to be positive role models within their community by holding doors open and being polite.
Duncan said the program is based on the importance of recognizing and rewarding good behaviour and could help police “break the ice” with local youth.
“It gets our foot in the door and acts as a vehicle for us to make that connection to kids, to build their trust and to initiate a conversation where it’s not a negative manner, where they’re doing something wrong, it’s in a positive manner,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the police, in most circumstances go into a negative situation where they’ve got to resolve that situation and, sometimes, kids in those situations perceive it to be a negative situation when police officers come around…I want to change that stigma. Police are there to help. They’re there to be supportive. They’re there to hear your problems and help in any way that you need.”
He added the program will run in perpetuity through the local RCMP Auxiliary.