The first day of spring brought many Gloucester Township residents to Rita’s Italian Ice at 3321 S. Black Horse Pike. They were looking for their annual free water ice, but what they found were Gloucester Township police officers helping out.
The GTPD was on hand to take advantage of Rita’s annual promotion by lending a helping scooper or two in celebration of the first day of spring and to take the opportunity to get to know residents in a friendly setting. Their presence was welcomed and needed as the famous Italian ice store was packed with hundreds of people who showed up to get their water ice. Multiple lines stretched far into the parking lot.
The officers brought their community outreach truck so people could get more information on what the police do on a daily basis. They also challenged people to games.
Corp. Jennifer McLaughlin, the GTPD community relations officer, couldn’t hide her enthusiasm at the thought of meeting residents.
“Rita’s water ice always does the giveaway for the first day of spring,” she said. “We figured we’d join them to help kick off spring. Our community outreach team is here with our community outreach truck and were scooping some water ice just to meet and greet with some residents.”
Residents, such as Felisha Stokes, were very receptive to the police taking part in the event.
“We really came out here to see the kids interact with the cops” said Stokes. “My daughter wants to be a cop. I want to show them that they’re friendly, they’re fun and enjoy some water ice.”
Her children got a chance to play a quick game of cornhole with the officer, and neither side made it easy for the other to win.
These are the type of ideals McLaughlin likes to push forward in her job as community relations officer.
“We believe in connecting with the community. If we build that bridge with your community and we have that communication, just a little interaction with a child, saying, ‘Hi, how are you, what kind of water ice would you like,’ we can take that and turn it into a positive experience for that child,” the corporal said.
The officers set their sights on letting the people get to know them on a more friendly level.
The police officers were not the only servicemen and women to show up for some water ice and community engagement. Michael Stack and Alec Ryan, two American Medical Response paramedics for Gloucester Township, made an appearance to show support to their brothers and sisters in blue.
AMR serves as the main emergency response provider for Gloucester Township, so they have gotten to know them in their time on the job.
“We came out to support the police because we do the same job and we run into them a lot. We appreciate everything they do,” said Stack.
Often their jobs take them the same places, and these EMTs know that having the trust of the community is vital to them doing their jobs.
“The main thing we do is interact with the community, and everything we and the police department do affects the community directly,” Stack said.
His partner Ryan felt that same sentiment.
“They’re here for the community, they’re here for us, and it’s nice when they show that appreciation and let everybody know they are here to help them,” Ryan said.
Stack and Ryan were also not not shy about getting a game of cornhole with the officers or anyone else who came to get a quick game in.
With everyone showing up to get a free icy treat, one Gloucester community member, George McBride, came to Rita’s solely to show his appreciation for the servicemen and women.
“The township sent out an email, and that’s how I found out about this,” he said. “How cool is this? I see them in my neighborhood, I wave to them and I acknowledge them.”
McBride, who likes to be active in his community, appreciates the police very much. He recalled an occurrence where the police were very cordial to a rowdy member at one of the previous town meetings, and he could not have been more supportive of how they handled the situation.
“There was a young man, he got a little obnoxious, and they talked to him and said you really have to go,” he said. “He was a little frustrated, but he said OK and he left. There was no incident and the police were just as gentle as ever.“
