COPS gives Orono kids game plan > Police Department unveils new trading card project

ORONO — Wanna trade a Detective McGillicuddy card for a Patrolman Duquette card?

It’s a question that is likely to be asked many times as Orono youngsters begin wheeling and dealing to complete their sets of the Orono Police Department’s COPS Trading Cards.

The cards — there are 14 in the series so far — are the latest in a series of community relations programs offered by the Orono Police Department.

The trading cards look like baseball cards, but instead of a ball player, each card in the series sports the photograph of an Orono police officer. There’s also an Orono ambulance card, and plans are in the works to add dispatcher cards and other public safety subject cards.

The back side of the cards features a brief biography of each member of the squad, and a personal message.

The trading cards are the project of Capt. Linwood Green, who learned about them from a South Portland officer he met at a community policing training program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Waterville a year ago.

When he returned, Green pitched the concept to his Orono law enforcement colleagues, who liked what they saw.

Green then set about lining up sponsors, mostly local businesses and service groups, to underwrite the printing costs. It was easier than he expected.

“They came forward to us,” Green said of the sponsors.

Within the next few weeks, pupils at Asa C. Adams School will receive “starter kits,” with each packet containing three randomly selected trading cards.

The rest is up to the collectors.

A different card will be featured at the town’s dispatch center every other week. The department also will offer card signing sessions at local businesses during which youngsters can meet the featured officer and get an autograph.

Police Chief Robert Mulhern said that later this year the department will offer a prize to pupils who collect a complete, autographed set.

The department also has developed a set of eight card collecting rules, which spell out how, when and where cards should be picked up.

There are enough cards for anyone who wants them, the captain added.

The underlying concept of the trading card program is to strengthen community bonds, particularly between police officers and local youngters.

“This is a great way for kids to get to know us, but actually it’s a way for us to get to know kids,” said Green.

The chief agrees.

“For the department, it’s been good in getting the officers to get personally involved in community policing,” said Mulhern. He said that each officer wrote his own personal message to youth, and chose the setting for his own photo.

For instance, Patrolman Richard Bryant II, who happens to be a computer buff, had his photo taken at a computer work station. Detective Frank McGillicuddy, who belongs to the area chapter of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club, is shown on his motorcycle.