On February 19, 2023, father and son Kewanee Police Officers were spotted playing basketball with two kids, who are brothers, at Irving School and captured positive attention from the public. The Kewanee Police Department started a Community Policing Philosophy a few years back and have worked hard to be more involved with the public and develop programs to help the kids in Kewanee. Deputy Chief Stephen Kijanowski said “I think we have been successful in the events and programs we have started or participated in, but want to continue to expand our community policing strategy”. Deputy Chief Kijanowski said it’s hard to say right now if Community Policing is “working”, but they have received positive feedback from different groups in the community. “I look forward to continuing our established programs and creating more community involvement opportunities for the Kewanee Police Department.” RegionalMediaNews reached out to Officer Roy Carpenter and Officer Josh Carpenter regarding the basketball game with the kids and building positive relationships with kids in the community.
Officer Josh Carpenter recently transferred to the Kewanee Police Department to make an impact on the citizens and youth in his hometown. Officer Josh Carpenter said “I enjoy stopping by to play basketball during school hours with the kids at random courts, houses, or anywhere. It’s helped me interact with youth since I’ve been a police officer. The Majority of people like sports, so if I can relate to the kids by playing a game, I’ll try to do that.” He said the kids enjoy playing a game and they can talk about school and life. “I believe taking the time out of our shift as police officers to make positive community contacts will make a difference.” He added “I’m also not opposed to losing to a 12-year-old in basketball.” Officer Josh Carpenter was recently announced as the K-9 Handler for the new K-9 in the Kewanee Police Department. Officer Carpenter and his soon-to-be named K-9 start training on March 13th and will join Sergeant Peed and K-9 Rosco in the K-9 unit.
Officer Roy Carpenter and his son, Officer Josh Carpenter, didn’t expect all the positive attention when they surprised two kids with a basketball game at Irving School. Officer Roy Carpenter said “I must admit playing basketball with my son and a couple of kids from the neighborhood that I grew up in, playing on the playground where I attended elementary school, learning that these two boys are nephews and grandchildren of people I grew up with playing on the same playground and in the same neighborhood was pretty cool. Reading all the positive comments on the Facebook post was heartwarming and encouraging. It was also nice hearing the vocal praise from motorists driving by as the two boys gave Josh and I a lesson in basketball. It was obvious to us that the older boy was the big brother because he would pass the ball to his younger brother so he could score the point instead of himself, not that he needed any extra help, as he was sinking three-pointers from far out. It was nice to see that he was a positive role model for his younger brother”. Logen, 17, and his younger brother, Jeramiah, 12, had a good time getting to play an actual game, said their mother Kari Richardson. Kari Richardson said it was awesome to see the Police Department being active with the kids. She said they do things like this but it’s hardly posted on social media. “Positive interactions with kids in the community helps build trust with the kids,” said Kari Richardson.
Officer Roy Carpenter also answered questions regarding interaction with children in the community. The Kewanee Police Department has always encouraged Officers to interact with the youth in the community, which is something Officers enjoy. Officers may play a basketball game of “Pig”, two on two or throw a football around with the kids for a while. Some Officers will smile and wave or stop and talk to the kids while handing out Junior Police Badge stickers. The Kewanee Police Department has several programs in place for kids in our community that are intended for them to have a positive experience with the police in a safe and controlled environment. On occasion, Officers will go to the elementary schools and read to the kids in their classrooms or walk through the school and interact with the kids on a one-on-one basis. The kids and officers always seem to enjoy these encounters. Additionally, officers give tours of the police department and squad cars to the schools, Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts throughout the school year. During the summer, officers will interact with kids of all ages during events hosted by the Kewanee Park District, Churches and other events put on by the community. The Kewanee Police and Fire Departments have been known to show up in force with lights and sirens to enjoy a cup of lemonade from a lemonade stand on a hot summer day.
Those interactions are exchanges that the officers can control and make into positive relations. Some interactions the officers can’t control, such as being called to a child’s home during a troubling time for the family. Prior positive interactions with the police may make it easier for the child to deal with such situations. We want the kids to learn at a young age that the police are their friends and someone that they can trust and go to for help said Officer Roy Carpenter.
I’m sure a lot of people in the community have seen Chief Welgat, Deputy Chief Kijanowski and police officers sitting in The Dunk Tank during the Prairie Chicken Festival and the Hog Days Festival. During these events, Community members and children may have received information or stickers at the tents hosted by officers, met Officer Peed and his K-9 Rosco or watched a demonstration of the police department drone.
While the kids seem to enjoy dunking police officers and getting up close and petting Rosco, Officer Roy Carpenter talks about how the Police Department provides educational opportunities in the schools. Officer Peed and Rosco have conducted demonstrations at schools while letting the kids get familiar with Rosco. Investigators and Crime Scene Techs also go into the schools and educated the children on collecting evidence, taking fingerprints and processing crime scenes. School Resource Officer, Shaun Gruszeczka, is present at Kewanee High School on a daily basis as part of the new School Resource Officer program with the Kewanee School District. Officer Gruszeczka has organized events like the basketball game between KPD Officers and the Boilermaker Life Skills Basketball team, which KPD lost by 3 points. Students, parents and members of the police department attended the event and it provided a positive experience for the officers, students and everyone involved, said Officer Roy Carpenter.
The Kewanee Police Department and Kewanee High School have held several Lunch and Learn sessions where students hear from speakers who are involved in the Criminal Justice System throughout Henry County. Henry County Probation, Illinois State Police Forensics, Henry County State’s Attorney, Bravehart Children’s Advocacy Center and the Illinois Department of Corrections joined the Kewanee Police Department to educate kids on the Criminal Justice System. Kewanee officers also attend job fairs and set up displays with videos and handouts intended to educate and provide information to students interested in a career in law enforcement.
Officer Roy Carpenter said Kewanee Police Officers also make community contacts throughout the day with people throughout the City of Kewanee. Whether it’s talking to someone walking in the parks or conducting a walk-through at a business while speaking with the employees and patrons of the businesses, patrol officers make several contacts like this every day. “I enjoy interacting with all members of the community, especially the children, and I am looking forward to more interactions with the community as summer nears.”
