Glendora cops partner with 7-Eleven to ‘ticket’ kids for good behavior

GLENDORA >> Police in Glendora are looking to dole out some “well-deserved Slurpee justice” this summer as they continued partnering with 7-Eleven stores to hand out free Slurpee coupons to reward kids’ good deeds and positive behavior.
“Operation Chill” is in its 22nd year and has resulted in the distribution to 19 million Slurpee coupons through hundreds of law enforcement agencies nationwide, Glendora police officials said in a written statement. It first began in Philadelphia in 1995 before spreading across the U.S.
In the program, police officers hand out the coupons to young people for “constructive activities and acts of kindness,” according to the statement. “Appropriate ‘offenses’ might include helping another person, deterring crime or participating in a community- or police-sponsored event.”
Glendora Police Chief Lisa Rosales said she was a fan of the program.
“We strive to continue supporting ways to help our officers build strong relationships in the community,” she said. “Operation Chill makes it easy to interact with youth in a positive way. This is a great investment for 7-Eleven and for us. We are pleased that this partnership enables us to continuously engage with young people.”
7-Eleven has provided police with 1.33 million coupons to distribute this summer, and at least 300 of those will find their way into the hands of Glendora kids, officials said.
The company described the program as a win-win for police and the communities they serve.
“Year after year, Operation Chill is our most popular community service program,” according to 7-Eleven Vice President of Asset Protection Mark Stinde.
“Kids love Slurpee drinks, and police officers love having a reason to approach kids and surprise them with a Slurpee coupon as a reward for doing something good,” Stinde said. “And we, at 7-Eleven, love helping them make those important connections in the community.”

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