Police Officers Read Bedtime Stories To Give Back

VERNON HILLS, IL — Well, if this doesn't make you go, "awww, isn't that sweet," we don't know what will. The Vernon Hills Police Department has decided to give back to the community amid fears surrounding the new coronavirus outbreak by launching "Operation Bedtime Stories."

Police officers from the agency will be reading bedtime stories each night, which will be posted on the department's Facebook page. The first bedtime story, Little Blue Truck, was read by Officer Lindsay Laas on March 24. On Friday, Sgt. Mike Katzenstein shared one of his favorites, which he "read to his boys when they were little," The Napping House, by Audrey Wood.

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Operation Bedtime Stories is the brainchild of Officer Laas. The stories are meant to help officers connect with families as police have had to put off community presentations, station tours and its majority of day-to-day contacts, according to authorities.

“The hope behind this read-along project is to give parents a little break and give the kids something to look forward to each night,” Laas said.

The bedtime stories are posted on the Vernon Hills Police Department Facebook page at 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

"With normal routines disrupted we felt it was a way to put something positive out for the kids and we hope to continue this program as long as the quarantine is in place," said Jeff Hemesath, Vernon Hills Police Department crime prevention officer.