Milwaukee police officers receive backpacks with books to help comfort kids during traumatic incidents

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — A e book program with the Milwaukee Police Division helps to distract youngsters on the scene of crises.

“We can deliver consolation to kids,” Police Chief Jeffrey Norman stated.

Two-hundred-and-four REACH backpacks are being given to Milwaukee police officers to maintain behind their squad automobiles.

“Seeing a number of the uptick in sadly battle points or home conditions, we all know that sadly, kids are an element of that incident,” Chief Norman stated.

That is one other solution to reassure youngsters in tense conditions.

“The kid is there and doubtless having the worst day of his or her life,” Curt Fuszard, with REACH-A-Little one, stated.

Every officer will preserve certainly one of these e book baggage inside their squad automotive. After they arrive to the scene, they may take out one e book and one drawstring backpack and hand it to each little one on the scene.

“They learn it collectively. The kid will get to maintain the e book and backpack. In fact, throughout this time, the opposite officers on the scene are addressing regardless of the challenge is,” Fuszard stated.

The REACH baggage are part of the REACH-A-Little one Program, due to an $11,000 grant from the AT&T Basis. Whether or not it is a murder, home hearth or accident, the aim is to redirect the kid’s consideration from the disaster at hand.

“We have been doing this for 15 years. Our mission is to present these sources to each first responder automobile in Wisconsin,” Fuszard stated.

This system at present helps 300 departments throughout the state.

“We have all the time offered books. We simply assume they seem to be a great useful resource,” Fuszard stated.

The Milwaukee Police Division can be receiving one other 1,000 books to assist replenish the baggage for the longer term.