Julia Higgins
St. Joseph School
8th Grade
People today are always looking for ways to benefit themselves. Kids in our community should want to do something because it’s the right thing, yet somehow actions usually lead back to the selfish ways of a greedy profiteer. Instead, let’s keep our children safe, and inspire them to take Personal Responsibility In Decisions Everyday – let’s help them take P.R.I.D.E.
The P.R.I.D.E. program would reinforce daily life lessons. Put trash in a trash can. Wear a helmet. Use a crosswalk. Children don’t usually have a lot of experience with making daily decisions, and the P.R.I.D.E. program would teach them that living simple life lessons feels good. Living safe, keeps you and those around you, safe.
I would be committed to the idea of promoting safety to kids in a healthy, progressive way. I would hold a public P.R.I.D.E. seminar for parents and children. When they sign up for P.R.I.D.E., this means that the child is ready to become a participating member of the community. Police officers would be assigned to areas where kids congregate; shopping centers, schools and parks for example. When an officer witnesses a child acting in a proactive, safe way, the child’s good work would be accounted for, and points will be deposited to his/her personal P.R.I.D.E. account, eventually leading to a reward. Varying prizes such as stickers, bookmarks, a movie ticket or gift card would be awarded depending on the amount of good decisions made.
As an LAPD officer for a day, I would establish P.R.I.D.E. in our youth community. The P.R.I.D.E. rewards program is a way to reinforce the future of our community to live and play safely. By becoming involved in “the establishment,” kids will apply life lessons and integrate promotion of the common welfare into their lives. Support the endorsement of the P.R.I.D.E. rewards program, and help the community today for a better tomorrow.
In my partnership with community officials in Long Beach, I know they would be dedicated to supporting P.R.I.D.E. Chief Batts, are you ready to help the children of Long Beach take P.R.I.D.E.? I know I am.
2008 LAPD Essay Contest Winners
In its fifth year, the LAPD Essay Contest was a huge success with hundreds of middle school students participating from the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles schools. Each of the 10 winning essays will be featured on the Department’s web site, one each week for the next ten weeks. Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to our sponsors.
In 350 words or less, students were asked to answer, “If you were a Los Angeles Police Department officer for a day, what would you do that would have the greatest impact on the community?”
If you are interested in participating in the 2009 LAPD Essay Contest, please refer to our website,
official website of THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT in January 2009 for further information. The 2009 LAPD Essay Contest will open in February for four weeks.
The men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department salute the ten LAPD Essay Contest winners and congratulate the parents, family, and teachers of each winner who share in their joy. The Department extends a sincere thank you to our partners and sponsors, without whom this essay contest would not be possible.
Monday June 9 - Mr. Philip Fedor, Grade 7, Saints Felicitas and Perpetua School
Monday June 16 - Miss Miriam Carcamo, Grade 6, George Washington Carver Middle School
Monday June 23 - Mr. Matthew Cina, Grade 6, Saints Felicitas and Perpetua School
Monday June 30 - Miss Samantha Alexander, Grade 8, Nobel Middle School
Monday July 7 - Mr. Gino Gasbarro, Grade 6, Our Lady of Lourdes School
Monday July 14 - Miss Yhecenia Mata, Grade 8, Sun Valley Middle School
Monday July 21 - Miss Vivian Ramirez, Grade 8, St. Linus School
Monday July 28 - Miss Julia Higgins, Grade 8, St. Joseph School
Monday August 4 - Miss Cynthia S. Rivera, Grade 6, Sun Valley Middle School
Monday August 11 - Miss Kimberly Alvarez, Grade 7, Chester W. Nimitz Middle School
2008 LAPD Essay Contest Partner: Univision KMEX 34 Los Angeles
Sponsors:
Safe Moves
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Polaroid Corporation
Universal Studios Hollywood
Aquarium of the Pacific
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Speedzone
Boomers Park
Los Angeles Dodgers