SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — Operation Chill, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office community service program, is back.
This fall, deputies will “ticket” kids caught in random acts of kindness, good deeds or positive community activities with free Slurpee coupons.
"Appropriate 'offenses' might include being helpful, wearing a helmet while riding a bike or holding the door open for a stranger," the sheriff's office wrote in a release.
The annual event is sponsored by 7-Eleven stores and has been running since 1995. The sheriff's office says during that span of time, more than 22 million coupons have been distributed.
“Working in law enforcement gives deputies the unique opportunity to engage with children and families in different capacities every day,” Sheriff Tom Knight said. “Just because we wear the uniform and carry the badge doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun and make memories with neighborhood kids along the way. We go into this line of work for a reason so I encourage my deputies to make the most of it every chance they get.”
What other people are reading right now:
- Florida Sheriff: Hurricane Sally knocks out section of Pensacola's new Three-Mile Bridge
- Florida approved to pay out fourth week of federal unemployment benefits
- Missing Child Alert issued for 11-year-old Tampa girl
- 'I didn't want to hurt anybody' | Video shows man with Trump flag drive through crowd of protesters
- Florida's senators push for bill that would keep US on Daylight Saving Time
- Sheriff: Deputies save man from jumping off Skyway Bridge after trying to run over deputy
►Breaking news and weather alerts: Get the free 10 Tampa Bay app
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter