JACKSON PD WILL BE FEATURED ON COLLECTABLE CARDS

Maybe local youngsters won't be willing to trade a Mark McGwire and a Sammy Sosa for a Darrell Sievers rookie card. If the youngsters became aware of who Sievers and his fellow officers are, though, and feel comfortable talking with them, the battle will have been won.

Members of the Jackson Police Department will soon be appearing on glossy cards, similar to baseball and football cards. The cards will then be handed out to local youngsters.

"The thing that makes this project so easy is the reason why most every peace officer got into the law enforcement business in the first place, to help people." said Sievers, project coordinator. "I have been promoting this project ever since Chief (Marvin) Sides gave his approval and the support from the community has been nothing short of amazing."

The program has enjoyed outstanding success in a number of communities around the country.

According to Sievers and Sides, the idea is simply to make the police more accessible to the community.

"My main goal is to promote the Police Department in a way that will encourage people to stop and talk to a police officer rather then shying away from a cop," Sievers said.

Here is how the initial step is designed to work.

Step 1. Each officer will be issued his/her own trading card. Each card will have an officer's picture on it as well as a personnel message from that officer.

Step 2. The cards will be passed out to any child or young adult that approaches a police officer and asks that officer for a card.

Step 3. The officer will use that opportunity to simply talk to the person that wants his/her card. Once a child knows that they can approach and talk to a police officer, hopefully this will make it easier in the future to do if needed.

Step 4. Once a child collects all of the cards, he or she will be given a coupon to receive one free child's meal from Tractors restaurant in Jackson. The child will also be given a coupon to go to SEMI Sports and Specialties and receive either a T-shirt or ball cap.

Once children have received their free cards, meal and clothing articles the benefits will keep on coming back to the community.

"Lets face it folks, the first time was the hardest for any of us to ride a bike," Sievers said, "but after the initial shock is over, it just keeps getting easier and easier.

"This is the comparison that I want to make for this program."

Once a child knows that police officers are just people like they are, it will be easier to ask for help in the future if needed." the initial shock will be over and hopefully a trust will be built between the officer and the child that received his/her card.

Sievers stressed that this project is not being funded by tax money from the residents of Jackson. "The community policing project is being funded 100 percent by private donations by concerned clubs, businesses and citizens." Sievers said. "I want as many sponsors for this project as possible, not for the money but for support and interest that is being generated in this community for its police department."

Since the beginning of the project, the Jackson Police Department has received enough donations to have the initial print of the cards done.

"I do not want this program to get started and then fade away," Sievers said. For this reason, Sievers, is asking that any person, club or business that would like to donate to this project please contact him at the Jackson Police Department at 243-3151.

"I guess the thing that I want everyone to remember is this," Sievers said. "Our children are our future and we owe it to them to give as much help as possible to resist violence, drugs, alcohol and crime as we can."