DC Police Partner With 7-11 For 'Operation Chill'

WASHINGTON, DC — School's out for summer and kids in DC may actually look forward to their next encounter with the 'heat' thanks to 7-Eleven stores' popular Operation Chill program that rewards positive behavior with a very cool treat. The Metropolitan Police Department is proud to partner with 7-Eleven in its program aimed to reduce crime and build rapport between kids and law enforcement.

Through Operation Chill, Metropolitan Police patrol officers can 'ticket' youngsters caught in the act of doing good with Slurpee beverage coupons. Appropriate 'offenses' might include helping another person, deterring crime, practicing safety (wearing a helmet during bike riding), participating in a positive activity in the community, or just for having a pleasant conversation with an officer.

"Here at MPD, we are always looking for ways to help our officers build strong relationships in the community. Operation Chill provides a creative approach to interact with citizens and enhance relationships with the youth in a positive way," police said in a statement.

Each coupon can be redeemed for a medium Slurpee drink at participating 7-Eleven stores. The coupons are great for officers who are on patrol in the community since it's a way to encourage dialogue in a non-threatening, non-law enforcement situation, police said.

Operation Chill was developed by 7-Eleven, Inc. to positively reward and encourage good behavior by kids during the hot summer months, when communities may experience increases in loitering, shoplifting and graffiti, and to support law enforcement agencies' community relations projects, police said. Since its inception in 1995, Operation Chill has grown to include several hundred law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Canada each year, and more than twelve million coupons have been distributed to officers on the beat in cities and towns where 7-Eleven does business.

Photo: Metropolitan Police