By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police Lt. Dayton Gates has been a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters for the past three years.
Now he’s pushing to get other officers to be a part of the Bigs in Blue initiative. The program is part of a nationwide effort.
“This is a program that was established in 2016 . . . through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America,” Big Brothers Big Sisters area manager Denise Brodsky said. “Other regions around the country have implemented this program. We’ve had this since 2017.”
Gates says that now more than ever it is important for officers to connect with youth to foster a positive relationship.
“If they don’t have contact with law enforcement at all, they’re influenced by maybe a family member, maybe a parent that was arrested . . . and that’s the only insight they have to law enforcement,” Gates said. “This is a very good program to where, not only would we change that child’s perception of us, but even his friends and his family.”
Gates has been able to get five officers to sign on for the Bigs in Blue program.
Brodsky says a meeting is set for July 23 to provide information to anyone who might be willing to be a "Big" to someone in Reno County.
“It’s really designed to give you further information, a deeper look into what we do, what the process is to become a 'Big,'” Brodsky said. “It’s designed to just give you some really strong information that you can take with you and then follow up afterward.”
The meeting can be attended in person or by Zoom and begins at noon at Clayworks in Hutchinson.