Starting this Friday, police who see children doing good things in the community, like wearing a bike helmet or picking up trash, will issue tickets redeemable for, oh yes, free McDonald’s ice cream.
Ticket winners will also be eligible to win a free bike throughout the summer.
“It encourages officers to get out of their cruisers and develop relationships in the community,” Lt. Rick Edwards told the Akron Beacon Journal.
Though a McDonald’s cone is undeniably refreshing, is it enough to improve an entire community? Many Canadian cities think so, as similar positive ticketing programs have popped up across Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Since 2010, several police forces in Canada utilized these programs to encourage good behavior and relations. These forces have boasted positive results in their communities, including recognition by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
This article appears in Jun 21-27, 2017.