Ticketed for good behaviour

Times Reporter  

 

The SWAT (Strathmore-Wheatland Addictions Team) Positive Ticketing program began in the summer of 2011 as a way to recognize youth for doing something positive in their community. From its inception until May 31, 2012 there have been 201 tickets handed out. 

Changing the attitude of the youth by recognizing them for good behaviour with a ticket and a voucher for a fun activity was one reason why the program was initially created.

“In addition to what we intended to accomplish I think we’re also building bonds between the police and the youth and building a positive relationship between them so it’s been very rewarding that way.” said SWAT member and Town Councillor Bob Sobol.

The RCMP, Wheatland County Officers and Town of Strathmore Bylaw Officers are the ones who give the tickets out to the kids. 

Sarah McKinnon, a high school student, was hired by SWAT to review the positive ticketing program and speak to the families whose children have been ticketed to find out their thoughts on the initiative. 

Hearing about the excitement that the kids felt when they realized what the ticket was for really stands out for McKinnon. She said the younger ones seem to be especially excited about being ‘caught.’

“It was also nice to hear some parents whose kids were involved in a negative aspect with the police to hear it was on the flip side. They were really happy that their child was able to have the opportunity to see that and to be recognized for doing something positive rather than something not so positive,” said McKinnon.

A majority of the tickets were given for practicing bike safety, followed by those ‘caught’ volunteering. The visible trends noticed in the documented data was that a majority of the tickets were given to youth between the ages of 9 to 14-years-old, despite the program being meant to recognize all youth under the age of 18. One idea is to try to focus a little more on the different age groups and the positive actions their demographic is commonly ticketed for. 

When the program was originally initiated Sobol said he hoped to see community minded youth recognized, but admits it can be a difficult thing to identify.

“We’re working on that, we’re trying to work out a way to identify these youths who do something in the community that (enhances) the community in general. I support them getting these tickets for wearing helmets and all that stuff but we’d like to sort of improve on the general feeling of youth towards their community,” said Sobol.

“As a new driver in town it would be nice if there was more recognized for the positive driving I guess you could say, but that’s one of the harder ones to monitor because then I guess you have to pull them over for doing something positive,” said McKinnon.

There were six tickets handed out for driving. Brandon Larson from Standard was one of the few recognized for his driving skills. Larson recalls the day he was ticketed in 2011.

“I was just going down to the Co-op for lunch and I was just coming down Main Street and he was following me and then I was about to get out and he came right up to my vehicle and said that I was being rewarded for good driving,” said Larson.

In his mind he had been trying to determine what he had done wrong. His friends and brother had all been wondering the same thing. 

“It felt good,” said Larson when he realized why the officer had followed him.

Cade, Erik and Dayton Maxwell-Mezerecky were all ticketed for practicing bike safety. Dayton and a friend had been playing outside when the officer approached them. Erik came out to join them, and was followed by Cade.

Dayton was a little unsure at first when the police officer went up to him and was happy when he found out he was getting a good ticket. 

“It does make me want to do more good things to get more good tickets,” said Dayton.

SWAT is hoping the word will spread about the Positive Ticketing program and that more youth will be ‘caught’ doing something good.