Nature of Incident: “Operation Chill” in Effect. Deputies Issue Coupons to Kids for Good Deeds!
Report Number:
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Date & Time: July 2013
Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department
Narrative:
School’s out for summer and kids in Thousand Oaks may actually look forward to their next encounter with the “heat” this summer, thanks to 7-Eleven® stores’ popular Operation Chill program that rewards positive behavior with a very cool treat.
Through Operation Chill®, Thousand Oaks Station 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 or participating in a positive activity in the community. Each coupon can be redeemed for a small Slurpee drink at participating 7-Eleven stores. The Thousand Oaks Police Bike Team began handing out the coupons in June this year to reward kids for wearing helmets while riding bicycles or skateboarding. The program is expanding to all Thousand Oaks Station patrol officers and is focusing on the summer and back to school months to promote good citizenship. The coupons are great for officers who are on patrol in the community. It’s an icebreaker, a way to encourage dialogue in a non-threatening, non-law enforcement situation.
Since its inception in 1995, Operation Chill has grown to include several hundred law enforcement agencies in the United States 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.
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. The Thousand Oaks Police Department uses the Operation Chill program to reward youth for their good deeds as well as to enhance their relations with the young people of their city.
Prepared by: Sergeant Romano Bassi
Media Release Date: June 27, 2013
Follow-Up Contact: Sgt. Romano Bassi (805) 449-2760
Approved by: Captain Jim Fryhoff
