Buffalo Grove police hand out Slurpee ‘citations’ to youth involved in good deeds, safety activities – Chicago Tribune

Buffalo Grove Police Department officers spent the summer in “chill” mode with local youth, partnering with a popular convenience store chain to provide young people with a treat for good deeds and more.

As part of an effort to “celebrate community this summer,” the police department participated in “Operation Chill” where children received coupons for a free Slurpee cold treat at 7-Eleven, according to a news release from the Buffalo Grove Police Department.

Deputy Chief Brian Spolar told the Pioneer Press in an email that the department’s participation would last “until the end of the summer, or until all coupons have been distributed.”

Children under 18 can get a coupon, he said.

This year marks the 29th year the national convenience store chain has partnered with local police departments to distribute free drink coupons to children as part of its Operation Chill community service program, the release said.

Buffalo Grove Police are reaching out to local youth and handing out Slurpee coupons as rewards for “good deeds, constructive activities and acts of kindness,” including helping others, contributing to crime prevention, wearing a bike helmet and performing other safety acts, or participating in a community or police department-sponsored event, the release said.

“Rewarding positive behavior fosters better relationships between our neighborhood children and our officers, and fosters a culture of kindness,” Police Chief Brian Budds said in the release. “Our neighborhood youth are our future, and this program helps them uplift others and foster pride and community spirit.”