Operation Chill began in 1995
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office once again is joining Operation Chill™, “the popular community service program sponsored by 7-Eleven stores,” the department announced this week.
This fall, Sheriff’s Office deputies and civilians “will ‘ticket’ youngsters who are caught in random acts of kindness, good deeds or positive community activities” by giving them free Slurpee coupons, a news release explains. “Appropriate ‘offenses’ might include being helpful, wearing a helmet while riding a bike or holding the door open for a stranger,” the release points out.
“Working in law enforcement gives deputies the unique opportunity to engage with children and families in different capacities every day,” said Sheriff Tom Knight in the release. “Just because we wear the uniform and carry the badge doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun and make memories with neighborhood kids along the way. We go into this line of work for a reason so I encourage my deputies to make the most of it every chance they get,” Knight added in the release.
Since the program’s inception in 1995, more than 22 million coupons have been distributed to law enforcement members in neighborhoods where 7-Eleven does business, the release says.