NCJ Number
86806
Date Published
1982
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Outside funding should be sought to continue the Comprehensive Crime Prevention Program (CCPP) of Colorado Springs, the program fosters positive interaction between youth and police officers in a nonaggressive, nonconfrontive situation.
Abstract
Uniformed police officers distributed football trading cards to youth in the Colorado Springs community. The program was designed to help youth see uniformed officers as human beings who shared an interest in sports. The Integrated Criminal Apprehensive Program (ICAP), enhancement grant paid for the printing of 99,000 football trading cards and associated publicity. Police officers were initially reluctant to participate in the program but had no choice after being repeatedly approached by the youth on his/her beat. The only negative aspect of the program was that youth did interfere with the police officer in the administration of duties. When this occurred, crime prevention officers again appeared on radio and television asking youth not to interfere when red lights were flashing on the officer's car. At the end of the 15-week distribution of the cards, a drawing was held for youth who had managed to collect a complete set of 15 cards. Crime prevention personnel report that the program has been enthusiastically received. Positive interaction between youth and police was fostered, and the police image was seen as positive. Photographs of trading cards and a distribution chart are appended.