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Kids getting to ride a Lethbridge Police motorcycle. (Lethbridge News Now)

Cops inspiring kids in Lethbridge to become the next generation of law enforcement

Aug 14, 2019 | 12:14 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Several kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Lethbridge got to take part in the week-long Kids ‘n Cops program.

It sees police officers take the children through a variety of activities that help them learn every facet of what they do.

Cst. Mike Darby has been volunteering with the Boys & Girls Club for around 20 years now and has a little brother of his own through the program.

He said he loves getting to lead exercises like this.

“Policing is a very rewarding career and I think everyone comes into it with very noble aspirations of wanting to do good in their community and it’s nice to see that kids have those same feelings of wanting to help people and make their community a nice place, so it’s very rewarding to see that.”

As part of Wednesday’s schedule, the kids took part in a traffic demonstration where they got to sit in the police vehicles and motorcycles, wear helmets and bulletproof vests, and test out a few pieces of equipment.

Kids learning how to use photo radar devices. (Lethbridge News Now)

Later in the day, they will take part in an identification presentation where they can play with ink and learn about fingerprints. At the end of the session, they go swimming at Henderson Pool.

10-year-old Kole Archibald says he loved the traffic demonstration.

“We got to see that cool car and also these cool bikes, and I think I would want to be a policeman.”

Unintimidated by the police officers he was working with or by the swarm of media asking him questions, Archibald added that he likes helping people and making sure everyone is safe and secured.

Cst. Darby said it feels very rewarding to know that they are helping to inspire the next generation of law enforcement.

Kids trying on helmets while sitting on Lethbridge Police motorcycles. (Lethbridge News Now)