STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN RESPECT FOR LAW WEEK

Winners arriving at the police station.

Jackson Police officer Rick Whitaker demonstrates the use of handcuffs to the students.

An annual "Respect for Law" Week was recently promoted by the Optimists Clubs in the Cape/Jackson area. The week of May 5 through May 11 is the week designated by Optimists International as a special time in which all Optimist Clubs develop programs that will help to bring respect and peace to their communities and to promote a deeper appreciation of the duties and responsibilities of law enforcement agencies and officials.

The Noon Optimist Club of Jackson sponsored a poster contest among the 4th grade classes in schools in the Jackson area. Students participated from the Jackson West Lane School, Millersville School, North Elementary, St. Paul Lutheran School and the Immaculate Conception Catholic School. Of the 197 posters submitted, 28 were selected as winners, with three of those being chosen as "Grand Prize Winners."

All students submitting winning entries were treated to a pizza party held at the Jackson Police DEpartment the following week. Officers from the Jackson Police Department, the Cape County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri Highway Patrol picked the students up from their respective schools and transported them in patrol cars to the station where they ate lunch with officers and received a tour of the facilities and certificates of appreciation. The grand prize winners were announced and received additional cash prizes and balloons.

All 197 posters were displayed in area businesses to serve as reminders to citizens of "Respect for Law" Week. Winning posters were awarded red ribbons with the grand prize winners bearing large blue ribbons. Businesses participating in the poster contest were Boatmens Banks, Jackson City Hall, Albert Sander True Value Store, Ross Furniture Store and Frontier Market and Restaurant in Fruitland.