Behind the Badge
The arrival of Police Services Officer Jennifer Jones, decked out in a Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat” top hat at Tustin Ranch Elementary School, indicated this was no ordinary day.
Jones, with her red and white striped hat, seemed to float above the throng as she led a contingent of about 20 police and volunteers participating in Read Across America day at the K-5 school.
The literature awareness day was created by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 to help get kids excited about reading. Read Across America is celebrated on or about March 2, the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel (known as Dr. Seuss), and has become a popular event on the Tustin Police Department’s annual calendar.
Mackenzie Newman, an executive assistant for the Tustin Police Department, reads “Go, Dog, Go!” a book about a group of dogs in search of a party.
Photo by Michael Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Each year, the Tustin Police Department visits one of the nine elementary schools in Tustin to read aloud and engage with students. This year, with five teams of four readers each, they fanned across the school, visiting each classroom to read to the students and answer questions about police work. Afterward, the officers and volunteers joined the children at recess, where they played games and chatted with the kids.
Principal Kathi Denny, wearing a t-shirt that stated, “All The Cool Kids Are Reading,” said it was particularly valuable to have the police attend and reinforce the importance of reading to the students.
“They’re pillars of the community,” she said. “Every kid’s eyes light up. They’re role models and leaders.”
She also has a particular interest in literacy.
“Reading is the foundation of everything,” she said. “When we have a chance where we celebrate it, we’re all in.”
Tustin police K9 Ragnar and his handler Officer Taylor Ryan visited Tustin Ranch Elementary on Thursday, March 2 for Read Across America celebrations.
Photo by Michael Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Some doggone fun
The most popular of the “readers” by far was Ragnar, one of Tustin’s two police service dogs, who attended with his handler, Officer Taylor Ryan. Ragnar enthralled children with his antics, including chewing his toy ball.
Fittingly, in the first class Ragnar visited, Annette Cuccarese’s transitional kindergarten class, they read P.D. Eastman’s book, “Go, Dog. Go!”
“Oh, he has a toy, he wants to play with us,” said one child when Ragnar entered the room.
Tustin police, including Police Services Officer Jennifer Jones, left, visited Tustin Ranch Elementary to read to students and share their favorite books.
Photo by Michael Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Soon, however, the children’s attention turned to Mackenzie Newman, an executive assistant for the Tustin Police Department, reading the story about a group of dogs in search of a party.
“We’re learning about community,” Cuccarese said. “Having that engagement (with police) to learn they’re not scary, they’re here to help us … It was beyond our expectations.”
After a question and answer session, including how Ragnar caught robbers, the police were on to their next room.
“How amazing was that?” Cuccarese asked the class.
After saying “bye police,” in unison, one child added, “They’re good cops.”
Tustin Police Department visits a local school each year for Read Across America to share a love of reading. This year, they visited Tustin Ranch Elementary.
Photo by Michael Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Talking ethics and morals
Captain Manny Arzate read to a fifth-grade class. The book, “John, Paul, George and Ben,” is about famous American Revolution figures, and was chosen by class teacher Mike Judd. Judd said the event was important in introducing police as part of the community, along with several city leaders who were also attending.
“It sets a great example,” he said.
Arzate, who attends nearly every year, read the myth about George Washington and chopping down the cherry tree.
“That gave me a good opportunity to talk about ethics and morals,” he said. “I didn’t expect that. Usually I get stuck with ‘The Cat in the Hat.’”
Tustin police visit Tustin Ranch Elementary on Thursday, March 2 for Read Across America.
Photo by Michael Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Student Joseph Garzone was pleasantly surprised when his dad, Police Services Officer John Garzone, showed up. The older Garzone entertained Joseph’s third-grade class with a reading of “The Book With No Words,” in which the reader is required to read aloud funny and nonsensical passages.
“It was pretty cool,” John Garzone said, and Joseph agreed.
At recess, Officer Josh Yuhas brought his motorcycle onto the blacktop, which was a big hit with students, as were Ryan and Ragnar. Meanwhile, officers played basketball and the school’s alternative game to dodgeball.
“They get to engage in the classroom,” said Jones, who works with the department’s Community Relations Unit. “Recess is just the cherry on top.”
Captain Manny Arzate reads to a fifth-grade class at Tustin Ranch Elementary on Thursday, March 2 for Read Across America.
Photo by Michael Goulding/for Behind the Badge
City leaders on hand
The police were not the only readers at the school. Tustin Mayor Pro-Tem Letitia Clark read from her children’s book, “Mommy Is The Mayor,” a kid’s eye view of local politics, to groups of classes in the school’s multipurpose room. Clark said the book gave children ideas of different kinds of public service.
“It’s another way to reach the community and connect with every age and demographic,” Clark said.
Clark, who has read at Tustin Ranch Elementary for several years now, has a personal connection to the school.
Captain Manny Arzate reads to a fifth-grade class at Tustin Ranch Elementary on Thursday, March 2 for Read Across America.
Photo by Michael Goulding/for Behind the Badge
“My kids were Cool Coyotes,” she said, referring to the school mascot.
Tustin City Manager Matthew West read “The Gruffalo” to his daughter’s class — in a British accent, no less.
“I’m sure I embarrassed her,” he said jokingly, then admitted, “She’s been looking forward to this day.”
West said an event like Read Across America allows police to interact in a communal activity and allows kids to, “See a policeman as a normal person. It instills trust.”
Tustin Mayor Pro-Tem Letitia Clark read from her children’s book, “Mommy Is The Mayor,” a kid’s eye view of local politics, to groups of classes in the school’s multipurpose room.
Photo by Michael Goulding/for Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Department visits Tustin Ranch Elementary on Thursday, March 2 for Read Across America.
Photo by Michael Goulding/for Behind the Badge
