«This is a very important program for our community,» said Inspector Chris McGillis, Hawkesbury OPP detachment commander, as he announced the creation of the «Positive Ticketing» program.
Ontario’s provincial police force has the «Positive Ticketing» program in other municipalities as part of its community relations work. This year the program becomes part of the Hawkesbury detachment’s proactive community outreach plan with the help of a $500 support grant from the Hawkesbury Police Service Board.
The aim of the Positive Ticketing program is to recognize and reward local youth for good citizenship when they display «positive behaviour» or do «random acts of kindness» during their day-to-day activities, whether at home, at school, or in the community at large.
Any local youth, 16 or younger, could find themselves getting a «positive action» ticket from an OPP officer if they are seen doing things like: practising personal safety by wearing a bicycle helmet, being active in community work, showing community pride by picking up litter, helping a senior citizen carry groceries, obeying traffic rules while bike riding or using a crosswalk.
The «Positive Ticketing» program also helps police build apport with youth and children in the community.
«It’s the most important thing,» said Coun. Robert Lefebvre, who sits on the police service board, «building that sense of rapport.»
Local children and youth who receive a «Positive Ticket» can redeem it at the detachment for a five-dollar gift certificate to McDonald’s or Tim Horton’s, which are also providing support for the program.
