ALLEGANY, N.Y. — When Officer Jeremy Pula dropped to the floor and began doing push-ups for a group of Allegany-Limestone Elementary School children, he not only brought smiles to their faces, but gained their respect.
Pula of the Village of Allegany Police Department was one of several officers with the department and two other law enforcement agencies that visited the elementary school Wednesday in recognition of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in the school district. The event, which was held in conjunction with National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, also invited the officers to visit the middle/high school.
During the event, officers from the Allegany department as well as from the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police were treated to a luncheon and visited with students in the cafeteria and halls. All three law enforcement agencies serve the school district, said Superintendent Tony Giannicchi, who was at the event as well as the district’s newest School Resource Officer Victor Arena.
“(The law enforcement agencies) regularly visit our school, so this is our way of saying ‘thank you,’ and if there is ever a problem we know they’re here for us,” Giannicchi said of the inaugural event. “This is a way of showing our appreciation and for them to become familiar with the school.”
He noted the event was coordinated at the school by elementary Principal Kim Moore.
Cattaraugus County Sheriff Tim Whitcomb said he and his officers appreciated the invitation to the event.
“This January I started my 30th year in law enforcement and there have been an awful lot of changes I’ve seen in a few decades,” Whitcomb said. “When I came to work 30 years ago, you came to work with 18 bullets, six in a revolver, six in each speed loader and that was about it.”
He said in comparison, officers now carry semi-automatic handguns, tasers, pepper spray, body cameras and Narcan, as well as defibrillator units and shotguns in their vehicles.
“It’s changed quite a bit, and the expectations of the job have become much more burdensome, taxing and dangerous,” Whitcomb observed. “In certain parts of the country, you see people in our profession simply getting executed these days. So, taking a day here to let men and women know that what they’re doing is appreciated and respected is a good idea.”
Chris McGraw, officer in charge of the Allegany Police, said he was pleased the school district set up the event, as well.
“This is an excellent way for us to entwine with all the students and for them to know we’re here from them and that we’re not just people out on the street,” McGraw said. “It’s a great outcome, these kids are coming up to us and shaking our hands.”
Lt. Melanie Churakos of the sheriff’s office agreed and said the event was important because for some children, negative encounters with police are all they know.
Sgt. Gus Giardini of the state police said he enjoyed visiting the students and the school, too, as the officers patrol the area frequently, but don’t get to visit the youngsters personally.
Trooper Kevin Prince of the state police said he, too, liked visiting the school.
“It’s wonderful to have the show of support and see the students and faculty alike be receptive to law enforcement,” Prince said. “It’s a positive reaction that really makes us happy inside, we’re definitely blessed to be here and very appreciative of the staff.”
Students who commented on the visit from the officers included June Hilme and her friends Lainee Dayton and Ella Oldham.
“It was cool. I think I liked best that they came around because you don’t get to see all the officers” up close, Hilme said on behalf of her friends. “And it was nice that they talked to us.”
