Thursday morning, Becky, Maisy Peach and I were pulled over by two seasonal Lewes police officers on Market Street. We were on bicycles. They were too.
“Don’t worry,” said Office Brooke Tucker. “You’re not in trouble. You haven’t done anything wrong. In fact, you’re doing something right and we want to give you a special ticket.”
She pulled a yellow ticket out of her handlebar bag, scribbled a date or initials on it and handed it to Maisy.
“We’re glad to see you wearing a bicycle helmet so we’re going to give you this ticket which is good for a free ice cream cone at King’s, Two Dips or Dairy Queen.”
How about that for positive reinforcement?
Maisy beamed at the whole concept.
We said many thanks and went our way. We watched the officers doing the same for many other children riding their bicycles toward Lewes Yacht Club for sailing school and swimming team practice.
Riding up Bay Avenue, Maisy said she liked the seasonal officers.
“They’re nicer than the ones who pulled Grammy over the other day.”
No ice cream cone for Grammy. Those officers explained that Becky and Maisy shouldn’t be riding their bicycles the wrong way on Second Street. Understood.
Police officers, no matter what town they’re in, can be our best ambassadors.
Doing friendly things like giving out free ice cream cone tickets goes a long way toward establishing friendly reputations for communities.
Cheers to Lewes Police Department and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee for a great and friendly program.
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Dennis Forney has been a journalist on the Delmarva Peninsula since 1972 and has been writing his Barefootin’ column for The Whale and then the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years. Like his Barefootin' Facebook page to get notified of blog updates.
