Students are also taught the importance of staying focused and preparing for middle school. Officers teach about peer pressure and its effects. Officers teach students to recognize some causes of stress and how bullying can affect others. Officers teach students to recognize how bullying can affect others and also encourage them to speak with a trusted adult if they experience bullying at school. Officers teach how positive attitudes can bring peace to situations and decrease negative encounters. Officers teach the basic function of a police car’s operation and equipment. Officers teach the ‘rules of the road’ in terms of bicycle safety and the importance of wearing a helmet. Officers teach the appropriate responses on how to react when confronted with a situation involving a stranger. Officers teach the consequences of not obeying pedestrian safety rules, the meaning of traffic safety signals, and the action requited to be a good pedestrian. Officers teach basic bus, car, bicycle, and home safety rules. Officers teach students what a police officer’s job is and that police officers are real people with family activities similar to their own. The program promotes public safety and good decision-making skills for children through the various topics:

The program provides an opportunity for young people to interact with law enforcement officers in a safe and positive environment. Through this program, officers visit schools throughout the District and present important age/grade-level appropriate safety lesson plans. In 2018, the department relaunched the Officer Friendly Program, which features the Side by Side Band.

The Metropolitan Police Department is dedicated to maintaining positive relationships with Washington DC’s youth.

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