NAHANT — The Police Department has been working hard to foster a closer relationship between students and police, such as hosting a wiffle ball game on a Monday afternoon to bolster spirits.
School Resource Officer Jason Hoffman has been figuring out ways to collaborate with the school and the community on ways for students to see police beyond just a person behind a badge — to make police officers feel more approachable to students and to remind them that beyond everything, police officers are just people, too.
“One of the big things is that law enforcement are people, too. It’s tough when kids only see the uniform,” Hoffman explained. “I’ve been trying to make time for them at the school, and make sure they recognize that I’m just another person.”
At 12:50 p.m. on Monday afternoon, students poured out of the school and trickled down onto the baseball field, where several officers were waiting for the game to begin. Johnson students were the first up to bat, with Chief Timothy Furlong stepping up to throw the first pitch. Retired police officer Carl Macarrio, officer Heather Leary and Swampscott School Resource Officer Brian Wilson were also in attendance playing against the students.
After what seemed like a few minutes of the students getting warmed up, the action began to heat up as students started launching balls across the field, dropping their bats and running for first base, navigating their way around the officers and trying their best to reach home plate.
The police department managed to put up a good fight, but they were no match for the energy of the students — who almost continually kept charging home plate.
Hoffman added that the aspect of community is crucial to the police department. “And Chief Timothy Furlong always pushes it, making sure that we’re always out talking to people not just as law enforcement officers, but as community members as well.”
As a part of the initiative to strengthen the relationship, Hoffman has been working closely with the school, where he’s embarked on physical activities like soccer and wiffle ball to generate some fun for the students — the type of work that Hoffman said goes a long way to foster a closer relationship between the community and the police department.
“The kids all love it,” Hoffman said. “I’ve been checking in with the gym classes these last few weeks, to get an idea of what they like or what they don’t like, and last week the older kids were clamoring to play wiffle ball.”
School Counselor Riley Edmunds talked about the impact it has on students.
“Officer Hoffman asked how the department could connect the police officers with the kids, and he thought combining it with the gym class would be fun,” Edmunds said. “In order to get a good relationship with them going, help them learn to make great choices as they continue to grow.”
Chief Furlong expressed his gratitude for being able to connect with the students.
“Jason Hoffman is doing a great job as the School Resource Officer at Johnson Elementary School… This is a great event, it brings us closer to the community, gets us closer with the kids. I just think it’s a great job from everyone involved.”
Swampscott School Resource Officer Brian Wilson shared his views on the activities and how they’re helpful for the students.
“Since the Nahant students end up at our schools, the police department invited me over, and I figure this is a good chance for us to come over,” Wilson said. “They get to see me, meet me… I do meet with them monthly already, but it’s just great to get out here with the kids and have some fun.”
