Gympie police lend their support for Queensland Child Protection Week

A number of Queensland Police representatives supported Queensland Child Protection Week last month, with Senior Constable Darren Hewitt and the Gympie crime prevention volunteers in policing (ViPs) attending the Goodstart Early Learning Centre in Gympie.

Senior Constable Hewitt spoke to the children about how to identify a police officer, the role police play in keeping the community safe, the importance of a safety network and when to call Triple Zero (000).

“The children loved seeing the police vehicle, hearing how loud the siren was and even had a great laugh at me when I showed them how good of a ballet dancer I was (or wasn’t),” he said.

Senior Constable Michael Love was also inducted at Goodstart Early Learning, Jones Hill as the centre’s Adopt-a-Cop during Queensland Child Protection Week.

Educational leader Kylie Stringer said the service was “very excited” to have Senior Constable Love become the official Adopt-a-Cop and join the daycare family.

“We feel it is very important for our little people to know that the police within our community are here to help and support them,” she said.

“Establishing positive relationships with role models will help develop a respect and confidence to trust the police and other emergency workers in their lives and for the future.”

Cluedo, the police dog, also came along to join in community celebrations during Child Protection Week, dropping in at the Healthy Play Project to promote support services and networks that are available to community members.

Senior Constable Hewitt said the children had an amazing experience playing safely, enjoying face painting, talking with members of the QPS and Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, along with interacting with Cluedo whilst the parents connected with networks that were in attendance on the day.

“I was later advised that 280 gift bags were provided to children and around 100 families present on the day,” he said.

For more information about the community outreach activities of Queensland Police please see here.