Teaching kids lifesaving lessons

PLYMOUTH — A local program taught young children essential safety skills through a week of fun and learning. The Plymouth Police Department continued its tradition of community safety education by hosting the 2025 Safety Town program from June 9-13, a release from the department states. This initiative, designed for pre-K children aged 4-5, is rooted in a legacy that began in 1937 with Officer Frend Boals of the Mansfield Police Department. Following the tragic loss of a young child in a traffic accident, Boals pioneered the Safety Town concept to teach children essential safety skills before they enter school, the release states. This year, eight students completed the weeklong program, which took place at the Plymouth Police Department. Due to past weather-related damage to outdoor structures, the program was hosted indoors, where officers and volunteers transformed the gym into a miniature village complete with inflatable buildings and a street mat for tricycle riding. Each day focused on a different focal point: • Monday: Bicycle and helmet safety, pedestrian awareness and distribution of t-shirts and activity bags. • Tuesday: Stranger danger and animal safety. • Wednesday: Field trip day featuring school bus safety, a visit to the Plymouth Fire Station and a tour of the Plymouth Police Department. • Thursday: Gun safety with Eddie Eagle, seat belt safety and an introduction to D.A.R.E. for pre-K. • Friday: Graduation ceremony at Plymouth-Shiloh Elementary School Cafetorium A highlight of the program was the use of a mobile traffic light, which helped children understand traffic signals and pedestrian rules. Each child was also fitted with a new bicycle helmet to reinforce helmet safety throughout the week. The program's success was made possible by the dedication of Plymouth police officers, professional presenters and volunteers from Plymouth-Shiloh High School, all of whom ensured a safe and engaging experience for the children, the release states. Graduation day was a heartwarming celebration. As "Pomp and Circumstance" played, each child donned a handmade "Paw Patrol" graduation cap — hand-crafted by Susan Rae David — and received certifications for completing both Safety Town and the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety program. Captain Montel Gordon proudly presented the awards.