Monmouth Gives Out Activity Bags When Parent Interacts With Cops

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — When the police are called to a home, or they stop Mom or Dad while driving, it can be confusing, terrifying and downright traumatizing for a child to witness.

That's why the Monmouth County prosecutor's office is now directing local police departments to give out these unique "activity bags" to children when their parents have to interact with law enforcement.

These are 5,000 nylon draw-string bags filled with teddy bears, coloring books and crayons, stress balls and water bottles. Let's say a police officer arrests an adult while driving, and there are children in the car. Or police are called to the home for a domestic violence incident. Or it could be as mundane as a parent or guardian goes to the police department to file a report and has to bring a child with them.

An officer can give the children this activity bag to keep them occupied.

The bags are currently being distributed to all police departments in Monmouth County, to keep in headquarters and for officers to keep in their patrol cars. Monmouth County is believed to be the first in the state of New Jersey to roll out such a county-wide initiative.

"The idea is that when officers encounter kids who are caught in the middle of some type of police response, a call for service, or for kids who are brought to a police department for whatever reason, there will be something that officers already have on hand for kids," said Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni. "So they won't be as scared and will have something that is just for them and with an activity."

The bags and contents were paid for by victim witness grant funding.

The prosecutor wants to have them in all municipalities prior to the start of the holiday season.

Pictured above, from left to right, are Aberdeen Chief John T. Powers, Manasquan Chief Michael Bauer and Middletown Township Patrolman Ricardo Cruz with the activity kits. Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden is standing next to Monmouth County Chief of Detectives John McCabe.

Photo supplied to Patch by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.