FARMINGTON, Conn. — It happens at Camp Courant each summer: Crime fighters from across Connecticut come to visit the kids at the Farmington campus.
This year, “Law Enforcement Day” brought representatives from around three dozen Connecticut police departments to interact and have fun with the 700-plus campers at Camp Courant.
“Law enforcement day is our biggest and best day every summer,” said Sam Tapper, the mission engagement manager at Camp Courant, which is the oldest free summer camp in America.
There were SWAT Bearcat trucks, Marine Patrol Boats, ATVs, and no shortage of police motorcycles that the campers could all learn about during Law Enforcement Day.
Middletown Community Relations Officer Jay Bodell is always accompanied by his better half, K-9 officer “Bear.”
Bodell said, “Many of these kids here only see the police in a negative light. So, to see us in a fun environment and learn about the equipment we have and different programs we have, that’s where the relationships begin.”
Ashai Gaynor is a 15-year-old junior leader at Camp Courant. She said she always likes the energy that Law Enforcement Day brings to campers, who predominantly hail from Hartford.
Gaynor said, “I think it’s good to see all the different aspects of the police force and it inspires the kids too because, for a lot of them, they see different things and say I want to do that.”
Bodell added that the day is about “nothing but hugs and high-fives from us.”
Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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