Introduction to Police Ice Cream Trucks
The puns are plentiful as police departments around the country buy their own ice cream trucks and roll into neighborhoods to hand out frozen treats for free. “Copsicle Patrol” is written on the one in Danbury, Connecticut. “Freeze! You have the right to remain frozen,” says another in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. “Let’s Chill Together,” Cleveland’s proclaims. “Frosty Five-O. Get the inside scoop” declares one in Palm Bay, Florida. “To Protect and Soft Serve,” says yet another in Toledo, Ohio.
Community Outreach through Ice Cream
Whimsical slogans aside, a growing number of local law enforcement outfits are using the trucks for a serious mission: to have positive interactions with their communities at a time when headlines often feature police brutality and misconduct. “There is no better way to draw the community to approach the police and let them know that we are approachable, we’re humans as well, than by handing out free ice cream to the kids,” said Lt. Kyle Besse of the Norwich, Connecticut, police department. “The smiles on the kids’ faces are really what make you realize that this is a great community outreach service.”
Funding the Ice Cream Trucks
Norwich police’s all-electric Chevy BrightDrop van debuted in early August, with about 90% of the $43,000 cost coming from donations from area businesses and contributors, and the rest from the city. Some departments have used tax revenue from legal marijuana sales and property seizures to fund their ice cream operations. Like Norwich, many departments’ ice cream truck programs are funded by donations, and the treats they hand out for free are often provided to them at no charge by local businesses like grocery stores and ice cream shops.
Community Reaction
On a recent day, Norwich’s van stopped at a local school where children were participating in sports camps. It was a hit as officers handed out ice cream sandwiches, bubble gum-flavored pops and Italian ices. “Instead of seeing people in jail, they’re seeing kids be happy,” said 11-year-old Rozzy Constant, who opted for the bubble gum pop. Angela Pires heard the music and rushed out with her grandchildren. “It’s a great idea. Not everybody can afford it,” she said. “Police get a lot of bad publicity. It’s about time that they get good things said about them.”
History of Police Ice Cream Trucks
Boston police are widely credited with having the first official police ice cream truck in the U.S. In partnership with the HP Hood ice cream company, whose half vanilla and half chocolate ice cream cups are iconic in New England, the city began “Operation Hoodsie Cup” in 2010. Police in other parts of the country, including St. Louis, Miami and Milwaukee, would deploy their own ice cream trucks in the following years. Hood has donated all the ice cream for Boston’s truck over the last 15 years, and that goes to support more than 400 events in city neighborhoods each year, police said.
Effectiveness of the Program
Whether the trucks are actually improving the public’s opinion of police over the long term isn’t clear due to a lack of research on the subject, said Kenneth Quick, an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and a former New York City police inspector. “I like that it is bringing the police out in the community, sort of showing them in a different light, that they are humans,” Quick said. However, he asked, “Is this an actual meaningful interaction that’s really going to shape somebody’s long-term perceptions about the police, or is it going be ‘I got a free ice cream sandwich from some cop in an ice cream truck’ but yet later on down the road when I actually have a meaningful interaction my perceptions are the same?”
Conclusion
The use of ice cream trucks by police departments is a unique approach to community outreach and policing. While the effectiveness of the program in improving public opinion of police is unclear, it is undeniable that the trucks bring joy to children and provide a positive interaction with law enforcement. As the program continues to grow and expand to more cities, it will be interesting to see its long-term impact on community-police relations.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of police ice cream trucks?
A: The purpose of police ice cream trucks is to provide a positive interaction between law enforcement and the community, particularly children, and to show that police officers are approachable and human.
Q: How are the ice cream trucks funded?
A: The ice cream trucks are funded through a variety of sources, including donations from local businesses and individuals, tax revenue from legal marijuana sales, and property seizures.
Q: Which city is credited with having the first official police ice cream truck?
A: Boston is credited with having the first official police ice cream truck, which was launched in 2010 as part of "Operation Hoodsie Cup".
Q: What is the impact of the ice cream trucks on community-police relations?
A: The impact of the ice cream trucks on community-police relations is unclear, but they are seen as a positive step in building trust and improving public opinion of police.
Q: How many events does the Boston police ice cream truck support each year?
A: The Boston police ice cream truck supports over 400 events in city neighborhoods each year, thanks to donations from HP Hood ice cream company.
