Florida police departments are picking up local kids off the street, and they're doing it right.
The Sebastian Police Department (SPD) on the state's Atlantic coast in Indian River County launched a new campaign this week called the “Caught Doing the Right Thing” coin program, targeting kids doing good deeds within the city.
The program rewards kids who do the right thing with prizes provided by local businesses, such as a small order of fries from Burger King.
A video showing the program in action has been widely shared on Facebook and has been viewed more than 110,000 times, in which SPD Officer Tegpreet Singh and a local boy explain the benefits of the coin program.
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Officer Tegpreet Singh from Sebastian Police Station hands the child a coin for being “caught doing the right thing.” (Sebastian Polis via Facebook)
“We want to celebrate the good in our community and our kids and hopefully create a lasting memory that it's not all bad,” said Chicago Police Lt. Robert Vafiades. FOX 35 Orlando.
Vafiades told FOX 35 that local children can receive coins for making good choices, like “wearing a life jacket or picking up trash, like in the video.”
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When an SPD officer “catches” a kid doing a good thing, they can scan the QR code printed on the coin and choose from a variety of local Sebastian businesses offering rewards.
Officer Singh from SPD explains how to use the QR code on the “Caught Doing the Right Thing” coin. (Sebastian Polis via Facebook)
Sebastian is about 50 miles south of Cape Canaveral and has a population of just under 25,000.
A child who received a “Caught Doing the Right Thing” coin redeems his prize at a local business in Sebastian, Florida. (Sebastian Polis via Facebook)
The “Catch Them Doing the Right Thing” program aims to bridge the gap between police and the community by recognizing the good in local kids. The police department also hosted a “touch and tour” event earlier this month, where kids could get an up-close look at police vehicles.
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The coin drive is funded by donations to the Sebastian Police Department's COPE program.
SPD did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
