VIDEO: Rock Partner With Durham Police

Pictured Above: DRPS Constable Terry Rayner, Sherwood Public School Vice Principal Tami Rayner, Rock captain Colin Doyle.

Toronto, ON – Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) officers, through the ProAction Cops & Kids program, the Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club, the Durham District School Board and Tim Hortons have teamed up to build relationships between officers and youth in a fun, active and constructive way.

Officers and members from the Toronto Rock are attending various schools across Durham Region with a two-hour, interactive presentation aiming to promote a healthy lifestyle, teamwork and character development. By interacting with youths in a positive setting, it will build trust and open the lines of communication.

Rock captain Colin Doyle has been joined at Durham Region schools by members of the DRPS with a lacrosse connection to spread a message that police officers are more than just the people they see enforcing the law and are a friend of the youth in the community. 

“I was young once where I had mentors and I had people to look up to because I didn’t know what way was right and what way was wrong,” said Doyle.  “I had good people, good leaders showing me the way and I think it’s real important.”

Former Rock players Dan Ladouceur and Pat Jones along with Rock Athletic Therapist Terry Rayner have all been instrumental in setting up the program and are all DRPS officers.

“It shows kids that police officers just aren’t in uniform all the time,” explained Rayner.  “We can be leaders in the community and it gives them the opportunity to see us in a different light.”

Upcoming dates are:

Monday, February 4, 2013

10 a.m. – Brooklin Village Public School, 25 Selkirk Blvd., Brooklin

12:45 p.m. – Village Union Public School, 240 Simcoe St. S, Oshawa

Monday, February 11, 2013

9:30 a.m. – Sir William Stephenson Public School, 1125 Athol St., Whitby

12:30 p.m. – Glen St. Public School, 929 Glen St., Oshawa

Monday, February 25th, 2013

8:30 a.m. – Norman G. Powers Public School, 1555 Coldstream Dr., Oshawa

12:30 p.m. – Dr. C.F Cannon Public School, Cedar St., Oshawa

Monday, March 4th, 2013

9 a.m. – Lakewood Public School, 323 Chaleur Ave., Oshawa

12:30 p.m. – SA Cawker Public School, 16200 Old Simcoe Road, Port Perry

Later this season, 160 participants in the ProAction Cops & Kids program will attend a Toronto Rock game.  Schools in Durham Region are also being presented with lacrosse sticks to help introduce the sport to a wider group of youth.  The sticks were donated by the Canadian Lacrosse Association as a part of their FITS program.

For more information on the Toronto Rock and the best ticket in town, please call 416-596-3075 or visit www.torontorock.com.

Photo: Mary Lou Naccarato