Stratford Police are trying to make interacting with children a positive experience for all involved.
The force has had 250 stuffed toy dogs made up to hand out to children they meet on calls and in the community.
The toys look like Jack, the department’s well-known police dog, with the Optimist Club of Stratford helping pay for the toys to be made.
Constable Jackie Lange is Jack’s handler and she says police don’t want children to hesitate to call them when they need help.
“If they need someone in the moment, and they’re lost or they’re scared, we want them to be able to come to the police so this is kind of, hopefully, another little thing that we can do to show that we care about the community.”
Lange adds once they hand out the initial 250 toys they will have more made up.
