An effective police agency must be part of changing perceptions and lives in a positive way. The Bowling Green Police Department believes that changing perceptions, educating and having a positive impact on the youth of our community is crucial.

There is a new “experimental” effort in the Police Department – The Crime Rockers – a live “police” band delivering the entertaining message of personal safety, personal responsibility and anti-drugs – in the elementary school setting. These types of programs have been done successfully in other communities.

Crime Rockers has developed a 8 – 10 song set (about an hour long program) with a planned message exemplified by each song, supported by interaction and conversation with the students, talking about personal safety issues, personal responsibility issues and the anti-drug message in a way that will entertain, provoke thought and conversations and allow the teachers to use this experience to continue the conversations with the kids after the police leave.

Songs like “Johnny B. Goode” with a “personal responsibility” message, “La Bamba” with a “cultural tolerance” message, “Twist and Shout” with a “stranger danger” message, “Mustang Sally” with a “seatbelt safety” message and the police favorite, “Drugs in your Hand” (an original – sort of) with an “anti-drug” message. “We want the program to be fun, entertaining and carry a positive and memorable message for the students that go to school and live in Bowling Green” says Chief Doug Hawkins.

The Crime Rockers members are: Chief Doug Hawkins, Major Kevin Wiles, Sergeant Terrill Sharber and Detectives Greg Claywell and Tim Wilson. The Crime Rocker members are providing all of the equipment to conduct the presentation from their personally owned instruments. The time investment, to have a positive impact on the kids, will be worth every minute.

The Crime Rockers kick off their program this Friday, October 1st at Warren Elementary (9:00 a.m.) and Parker-Bennet-Curry (1:00 p.m.)