PATERSON- When Kanesea Palmer sees a police officer on the street, the kindergartner´s first thought is often fear. But the creators of a new program run by the Passaic County Prosecutor´s Office hope to change that image by showing children that law enforcement exits to serve the public.
 

Detective Steven Olimpio came to the city´s Dale Avenue School Monday to tell youngsters that the men and women in blue are there to protect them from harm.
 

"The most important thing we do is help people," Olimpio told 24 boys and girls in Debra Savana´s kindergarten class. "Sure we chase people, and sometimes arrest people, but mostly what we do is make sure you´re safe."
 

The children clamored around Olimpio asking questions about cops and robbers, listening to his stories and participating in role-playing games, in which they were taught to avoid strangers in public places.

It was all part of the Better Tomorrows program, a segment of the Newspapers in Education series run for years by the prosecutor´s office and the North Jersey Herald & News.

An introduction for the area´s youngest residents to the prevention of drug abuse, discrimination and gang violence, Better Tomorrows this year has included police officers who address classes to combat negative images of law enforcement.

"The problem is that they hear so much negative information, (the police) have to reinforce what´s positive," said Savona, a 21-year school veteran who said she has seen many changes since she began teaching here.

"Kids are exposed to more violence and crime nowadays, both in their own lives and on television." Savona said. "The whole nature of the game has changed - basically, they´re five years old now and they´re already streetwise."

Olimpio, the director of the city´s Police Athletic League who runs after-school programs full-time, said he relished the chance to reach kids so young, before their views are completely formed.

"A lot of these kids, all they see is a police officer coming in and breaking down their door with a night stick," Olimpio said. To one gap-toothed boy jumping up from the orange-carpeted classroom, he explained, that the metals affixed to his shirt were "like the gold stars you get for paperwork."

We really see a difference in the kids who we meet again for a second time," said Mary Kuzinski, special assistant to Prosecutor Ron Fava, who accompanied Olimpio on his rounds of the school, handing out crayons and coloring books entitled "Police Officers are Your Friends."

And for 5 year-old Kanesea Palmer, who jumped up to yell "911" on cue with her classmates, the presentation seemed to have worked.

"They put people in jail, but I like them better now," she said, adjusting a pigtail as she filled in the policeman´s hat in red.