ST. LOUIS — In an effort to help build better relationships with the communities they serve, St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden said his officers will soon begin to hand out candy to kids while on patrol.
In a tweet posted Sunday, Chief Hayden said the new effort begins Monday. He said in part, "It's the little things that often do the most good." Similarly to their school visits and ice cream truck program during the summer, the hope is that this will help kids and teenagers see police in a more positive light.
"It's the little things that often do the most good," said Chief Hayden.
He said the idea came, in part, from Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards, whose trust for police officers stemmed from childhood of them handing out candy and baseball cards.
However, not everyone is a fan of the idea. People on Twitter questioned the method of encouraging kids to take candy from strangers or mention other efforts they believe would be more impactful.
"Try arresting heroin dealers," said one user.
"That's what child molesters do! That is literally what every parent tells their children NOT to do," said another user. "A perfect illustration of how out of touch you are. Whoever came up with this idea should be fired."
