Behind the Badge
It’s known as “The Farm.”
At the James A. Musick Facility in Irvine, some rehabilitative efforts are centered on farm-like activities.
Halloween pumpkins await painting by Travis Ranch Elementary School students in Yorba Linda on Monday, October 21, 2019. The pumpkins were provided by the Orange County SheriffÕs Department. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)
Here, a variety of fruits and vegetables are grown — some of which include pumpkins.
On Tuesday, Oct. 23, personnel from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department harvested 57 pumpkins from “The Farm” and delivered them to students at Travis Ranch Elementary School in Yorba Linda.
Deputy Anthony Pecoraro of the Orange County SheriffÕs Deptartment watches as students at Travis Ranch Elementary School paint Halloween pumpkins in Yorba Linda on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. The pumpkins were provided by the SheriffÕs Department. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
“(The students) are super excited for the (deputies) to visit today and to paint pumpkins with them,” said Travis Ranch teacher Jennifer Soto. “They were really looking forward to it.”
This is the second year in a row that the OCSD has donated pumpkins to schools.
A young Travis Ranch Elementary School student paints a pumpkin provided by the Orange County SheriffÕs Department in Yorba Linda on Monday, October 21, 2019. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)
OCSD School Resource Officer Deputy Nick Doty organized the delivery of the pumpkins and brought along seven Yorba Linda Police Service deputies to help 5-year-old students — called Preppy K’ers – paint and decorate the pumpkins before Halloween.
“I (decided) to donate the pumpkins to the Preppy K’ers because they’re just so cute,” Doty said. “We’re going to paint them and put some glitter on the pumpkins, which is fun, and having my partners here is awesome because they get this opportunity that I get every day to interact with the kids.”
Sgt. Ade Olukoju of the Orange County SheriffÕs Dept. watches as students at Travis Ranch Elementary School paint Halloween pumpkins in Yorba Linda on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. The pumpkins were provided by the SheriffÕs Department. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)
Students painted smiley faces on their pumpkins while others painted animals — or just painted their pumpkin.
A very enthusiastic Preppy K student, Charlie, was excited to show deputy Doty his masterpiece.
Orange County SheriffÕs deputy Shawna Rodriguez walks with a Travis Ranch Elementary School student in Yorba Linda on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. The students had just finished painting Halloween pumpkins provided by the SheriffÕs Department. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
“Look! I made a zombie!” Charlie said as he pointed to the black paint he had sponged across his pumpkin.
Deputies talked with students, asking about the designs they were painting and how school was going.
A Travis Ranch Elementary School student paints her Halloween pumpkin in Yorba Linda on Monday, October 21, 2019. The pumpkins were provided by the Orange County SheriffÕs Department. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)
“It’s great to have an opportunity to come work with the community, especially the students here at Travis Ranch, because they are our future generation,” said Yorba Linda Police Chief Lt. Cory Martino.
Introducing deputies to the youngsters also helps students build a positive relationship with law enforcement.
Lt. Cory Martino, left, steadies a pumpkin for a Travis Ranch Elementary School student as she applies paint to the Halloween pumpkin in Yorba Linda on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. The pumpkins were provided by the SheriffÕs Department. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)
“It’s so important that they realize that the (deputies) are here for safety and to help them if they need it, so they shouldn’t be scared of them,” said Travis Ranch teacher Jennifer Streward.
“We love that they’re here, and we love that there is a positive police presence, especially with Deputy Doty, for even our youngest kids,” Soto said. “It’s so cool that the kids can go home and say, ‘We saw a police officer’ and just to know that someone is here.”
Sgt. Justin Montano of the Orange County SheriffÕs Department watches as Travis Elementary School students paint Halloween pumpkins provided by the SheriffÕs Department in Yorba Linda on Monday, October 21, 2019. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)
Orange County SheriffÕs deputy Nick Doty, left, sprinkles glitter on a pumpkin for a Travis Ranch Elementary School student in Yorba Linda on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. The Pumpkins were provided by the SheriffÕs Department.(Photo by Paul Rodriguez)
Sgt. Ade Olukoju helps a Travis Ranch Elementary School student with a pumpkin in Yorba Linda on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. The pumpkins were provided by the SheriffÕs Department for the students to paint for Halloween. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)
Halloween pumpkins painted by Travis Ranch Elementary School students in Yorba Linda on Monday, October 21, 2019. The pumpkins were provided by the SheriffÕs Department. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Orange County SheriffÕs deputy Nick Doty, right, helps sprinkle glitter on a pumpkin for a Travis Ranch Elementary School student in Yorba Linda on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. The pumpkins were provided by the SheriffÕs Department. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Orange County SheriffÕs deputy Nick Doty points the way to the Halloween pumpkins brought by deputies to Travis Ranch Elementary School students in Yorba Linda on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)
Orange County SheriffÕs deputy Nick Doty sprinkle glitter on a Halloween pumpkin painted by a Travis Ranch Elementary School student in Yorba Linda on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. The pumpkins were provided by the SheriffÕs Department. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)
