Hilliard police officers will be spending more time reading to children in local classrooms as part of a new partnership with Starfish Assignment.
The Hilliard Division of Police is the newest agency to join the nonprofit organization’s Books and Badges program. Officers will schedule reading opportunities with Hilliard elementary schools and each child in the classroom will take home their own copy of the book read in the classroom.
These fun events encourage literacy and allow the officers to bond with children living in their jurisdiction. The students also have an opportunity to ask the officers questions about their jobs and lives.
“We’re excited to be partnering with Starfish Assignment — an organization that has done so much to support central Ohio law enforcement and the communities they serve,” said Chief of Police Robert Fisher. “It’s always a pleasure to take a break from the daily routine to spend time with the children in our community, and the Books and Badges program will help create more of those opportunities.”
Starfish Assignment is a nonprofit organization based in central Ohio that works with law enforcement to identify needs — both big and small — in the communities they serve. In addition to the Books and Badges program, Starfish Assignment facilitates coat drives, “Blessing Bag” donations and the Cops and Barbers program, an initiative to help inner-city children start the school year with a fresh haircut.
Other partnering agencies include Dublin Police Department, Columbus Division of Police, Franklin Township Police Department and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority Police.
