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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Cpl. John St. Pierre from the Alabaster Police Department recently made a special trip to Creek View Elementary School to interact with students and share safety tips.

According to St. Pierre, the main goal of the visit was to build positive relationships with the students while also introducing them to the role of law enforcement and what APD officers do for the community each day.

“The visit to Creek View Elementary School was a resounding success,” St. Pierre said. “We spoke about the importance of always being a community helper and how even they, at such a young age, can help police officers catch suspects, solve problems and fix issues within the community.”

St. Pierre said that, during the event, he aimed to show the students that officers are there to keep them safe and that they can always approach an officer if they need help. He also shared that he felt the visit left a positive impact which was evident in students’ engagement and enthusiasm when answering questions about subjects such as safety, bullying and seatbelt usage.

“The children had a great time,” St. Pierre said. “They were engaged, asked thoughtful questions and were excited throughout.”

During St. Pierre’s visit, students also had the opportunity to get a tour and hands-on look at one one of the APD’s Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicles.

“Seeing their excitement when they got to sit inside and see the interior setup was fun,” St. Pierre said.

Students also viewed the equipment officers use on a daily basis as well as emergency lights, radio systems and other specialized tools.

“Overall, the visit was an excellent opportunity to strengthen community partnerships and educate young students on the critical role of police officers,” St. Pierre said. “I want to thank the staff at CVES for their hospitality and the parents for their support. We’re looking forward to future opportunities to connect with the community and share more about what we do.”