Video: Springfield police foster positive relationship with students

http://www.wptz.com/news/springfield-police-foster-positive-relationship-with-students/32674120

By Liz Strzepa Springfield police foster positive relationship with students Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston participated in the "Lunch With a Cop" program on April 30 Published 6:44 PM EDT Apr 30, 2015 SHOW TRANSCRIPT Springfield police chief Douglas Johnston said he's gone to many Springfield High School events in his career. But on April 30, he was at the school for a different reason: to eat lunch with students. "I think this is a way that the young adults get an opportunity to see us in a different light," Johnston said. Johnston and his department teamed up with high school leaders a few months ago to create a program for positive interaction between officers and students. They're calling it, "Lunch With a Cop." Springfield High School principal Bob Thibault said the response has been positive. "To be in a lunch room, just laid back, relaxed, like 'hey there's an officer talking to me about my bologna sandwich' or whatever it's about, I think that's really positive and it just builds relationships," Thibault said. Some Springfield students say that having a police presence in the school is a good thing. "I've always liked police officers but... one on one they just seem more relaxed and they just aren't as scary as some people would say," said Arianna Rowe, a junior at Springfield High School. Rowe said having an officer at the school following the April 18th shooting of Wesley Wing made her feel safer. "[The shooting] was like, right out side of the school, so it definitely made things feel a little safer," Rowe said. Principal Thibault agreed. "Knowing there's an officer here from time to time...my hope is that makes people feel a little bit more at ease," Thibault said. Johnston said connecting with the school community is an important step in the right direction. "It just sees people in a different light, it sees us in a different light where we may see them outside dealing with them, we know what they're like in here, and that can be to our benefit too," Johnston said. Johnston said he hopes to continue the program next year.