HAMILTON — Police and firefighters have been hitting the streets and issuing tickets with a specific target: kids, who couldn't be happier.
That's because the new citations don't punish people for breaking the law, they reward kids for obeying it.
The "ice cream citations" look like a regular violation ticket, but the "fine" is a free small ice cream at Taylor Made Sweets at the Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing.
"If we come across somebody that is showing safe actions, we bring it to the attention of the child," Detective Stephen Trepanier said. "We stop and talk to them and give them a citation."
So far, police officers and firefighters have given out about two dozen ice cream citations to kids for deeds including wearing a bike helmet, wearing a seat belt or walking bikes across crosswalks. They plan to give out about 80.
But the sight of a police officer approaching can bring a brief moment of a confusion to the kids, Trepanier said. Worries soon depart, however, once the kids realize the police want to reward their good deeds.
"They want to stop and talk," Trepanier said of the kids. "It's a great thing for community policing."
The free ice cream is courtesy of the downtown ice cream shop Taylor Made Sweets. The shop was previously known as The Sweetest Thing.
Owner Sheila MacDonald of Wenham bought the ice cream shop two months ago after losing her job as a financial analyst.
MacDonald, a former high school teacher, jumped at the chance to partner with the police and fire departments.
"You always hear when you screw up — from your boss or teacher — but you don't always get rewarded when you do the right thing," she said. "We got a great community of kids, and we should reward them when they do good things."
Of those two dozen ice cream citation recipients so far, about six kids came in to pick up their free ice cream, MacDonald said.
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