Police form kids’ posse

The Community Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) at 52 Division is recruiting kids for its Police Kids Posse activity program that meets Wednesday evenings at University Settlement rec centre at Grange Park.

Children ages 6 to 13 are welcome to attend from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and take part with 52 Division officers in games, sports, arts and crafts and have some healthy snacks. 15 to 20 kids attend each week.

“The goal of our CPLC is to assist in building strong relationships between 52 Division Police and the greater community,” says co-chair Tim Kocur, who also serves with the Toronto Financial District BIA.

An off-shoot of the Police Kids Posse (PKP) is 52 Division’s annual scholarship fund with the close-by Contact Alternative School that helps youth who have left high school and want to return. The Division is also developing a mentor program to connect the school’s graduates with police and Downtown professionals who share their interests.

Barb Tahir, PKP’s volunteer coordinator, says the program benefits kids by helping them learn to get along with others, how to share, it teaches them street safety and shows them how to cook by making hotdogs, pizza, rice with vegetables and other pastas.

Every so often they write letters to children in the Philippines as pen pals and each country tells the other what life is like in their countries, says Tahir who has won accolades for her PKP work.

Older children like to play Frisbee, catch footballs, and practice their soccer skills in Grange Park. In their craftwork they’ve made jewelry boxes with popsicle sticks and pen and pencil holders. They’ve been on tours of 52 Division, the Air Canada Centre and more outings are planned.

An award is presented every year to the girl and boy with the best attendance and who show initiative in helping with the program’s activities. Also helping out are Constables Mark Woo and Chris Lampiris.

A community barbeque this year raised more than $3,000 for healthy meals and for transportation to go on outings. To join contact Jennifer Bauldic at jen@torontoliveshere.ca.

Posted On: October 01, 2015