Cops & Crayons Draws Hundreds to Little Egg Harbor Library

Little Egg Harbor Township police officers sat down side by side with the local children they’ve sworn to serve and protect for an afternoon of coloring on Saturday, March 18.

More than 280 people of all ages took part in the two-hour event at the Little Egg Harbor branch of the Ocean County Library, organized by children’s librarian Kate Sanchez and Little Egg Harbor Police Sgt. Sean Crotty.

Among prominent attendees was Ocean County Commissioner and former Little Egg Harbor Mayor Barbara “Bobbi Jo” Crea.

LEADERSHIP: Ptl. Sean Crotty stands proudly with Little Egg Harbor Police Junior Recruits.

Kids shared imagination, crayons and paper with both their peers and officers, and were given a presentation by Officer Brian Smith and K-9 Officer Hooks. All children received free Child ID cards courtesy of the CHILD Project and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office.

The nationwide voluntary Children’s Identification and Location Database, or CHILD, Project network allows law enforcement and social service agencies to locate and identify missing children and adults through iris biometric recognition technology.

COMMUNITY: Ptl. Brian Smith shares conversation with some local residents over art.

Cops & Crayons was presented in partnership with the Little Egg Harbor Police Department, Little Egg Harbor Municipal Alliance Committee, Little Egg Harbor Parent Teacher Organization, Little Egg Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Little Egg Harbor Education Association and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office. Donations of crayons and coloring books were made to the police department by the local Walmart and Dollar General.

“I would like to thank Sgt. Crotty and his wife for helping bring this event to the library,” Sanchez shared. “Organizing an event like this was a team effort of OCL and police staff, school and community volunteers. It’s wonderful to see so many people at the library.”  —M.M.D.