Instead of going to a movie or out to eat on a Friday night, a dedicated group of adults are spending their time at the gym, playing with kids.
The weekly winter program, called Kids & Kops, was started by the Lake Orion Police Association in 1995.
‘I saw a need to do something (for kids) in the winter,? officer Amy Fong-Kretzmer said. She runs the program on Fridays from November through March (the club will be closed on March 11, and the last Kids & Kops is on March 18).
Kretzmer gets help from off-duty officers who drop in to hang out with the kids in the community.
Kids & Kops are in a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Michigan-Orion/Oxford so the police officers also receive assistance from members of the club’s staff.
Thirty to 40 kids usually show up each week to participate in lots of physical activity, with organized games such as dodge ball and rat race.
‘Amy is phenomenal with the kids, running this program. The kids love it and enjoy her company. It’s a good way for the kids and our officers to get to know each other,? LO Police Chief Jerry Narsh said. ‘The guys love it. It’s a huge benefit to the community. It has wonderful results.?
As a result of the partnership, only members of the Boys & Girls Club can participate in Kids & Kops. Yearly membership in the club costs $30 per child.
‘But we’ve never refused anyone who wants to come,? the boys and girls club director Tim Dougan said.
‘It’s fun; it’s organized; it’s supervised: it’s all great; it’s about teaching sportsmanship and citizenship. I don’t know why more parents don’t take advantage of this,? Kretzmer said.
Kretzmer also takes time to talk to the children about age appropriate things and substance abuse.
When the kids stop running and dodging at Kids & Kops, they can load up on snacks and orange drink provided by Lake Orion’s Kroger and McDonalds Restaurant.
According to Kretzmer, the age of kids who show up at Kids & Kops ranges from 7-14. The average age is between 9-10. ‘Some kids have been coming for years and years,? she added.
Dougan’s happy with the partnership. ‘The kids get to know some police and they realize they aren’t someone to be afraid of,? he said.
‘The police support me totally. The local businesses are supportive,? Kretzmer said. ‘I would like to have it (Kids & Kops) all year long.?
According to Narsh, the village police association is a private non-profit organization that focus on youth.
‘We raise money by selling things like our calender, coffee cups and having fundraiser events. We sponsor the all-night party (LOHS graduates),? he added.
‘Anyone can donate to the police association. The more money we get, the more we can give away.?