—Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Teresa Wood Hamilton County Deputy Alex Pruismann reads to children at Northeast Hamilton and Stratford Elementary schools on alternating weeks for a program he developed. The program, Books and Badges, helps develop a positive relationship between law enforcement and students as well as educate youth on a variety of safety topics.

There is a law enforcement presence at two Hamilton County schools – and

its a good thing.

Alternating every other Friday between Northeast Hamilton or Stratford

Elementary schools, Hamilton County Deputy Alex Pruismann visits classrooms

to read to students as a part of the Books and Badges program.

Pruismann developed the program to help nurture a positive relationship

between students and law enforcement.

“My hope is that this program will help humanize the badge and break

down negative connotations or fears towards law enforcement,” he explained.

The seed for the program was planted last fall when Pruismann was asked

to give a presentation at NEH on Halloween safety.

That visit had a profound effect on him.

“It ignited a passion within me to continue the process of building

relationships and educating students,” said Pruismann, a father of four and

a NEH alumnus.

His children include Lovie, a second grade student, Elsie in

Kindergarten, Paeslie in Pre-K and Sunnie is 18 months old. Pruismann’s

wife Kacey is also para-educator at NEH.

With the approval of then Hamilton County Sheriff Denny Hagenson,

Pruismann designed Books and Badges to encourage a positive relationship

between law enforcement and youth and to educate students on a variety of

safety topics.

While the Hamilton County Books and Badges program is not associated

with any other law enforcement association, Pruismann studied other programs

across the nation when formulating his plan.

Working the night shift, Pruismann is up early every Friday to visit the

classrooms where he spends 2 – 3 hours.

“I’m used to it,” said Pruismann. “I have learned to use time wisely”.

At Stratford, Deputy Pruismann visits the Early Learning Center,

preschool, Kindergarten and 1st – 3rd/4th grade classrooms. At NEH, he

visits the Mighty Trojan Day Care, Pre-K and K-3rd grades. The NEH 4th-6th

grades participate in the DARE program, he explained.

Pruismann spends between 20 – 30 minutes in each classroom. Each

session begins with a general discussion and a question and answer period

for students who may have questions since his last visit. A topic of the

day usually coincides with the day’s book theme and a discussion follows.

Discussion topics include Halloween safety, stranger danger, cyber

danger, bus and vehicle safety and the job of law enforcement.

Pruismann has challenged students to learn their important personal

information such as their parents’ first names and their own address and

phone number by the end of the year. Successful classrooms get to pick a

challenge for Deputy Pruismann to undertake which may include a silly string

war, a pie in the face, a foot race or for him to bring one of his family’s

alpacas to school.

It is easy to see why Pruismann enjoys being with kids. At NEH, he

knows or is related to most of the children in the Pre-K classroom where he

appeared one recent Friday morning.

“Most of you know who I am,” said Pruismann as he introduced himself.

“Who am I”?

“Daddy!” answered daughter Paeslie.

“Uncle Alex!” responded another.

Pruismann chuckles and remembers that besides wearing a badge, he also

has family and community ties.

“I am your friend,” Pruismann tells the youngsters about his job. “The

job of law enforcement is more than just arresting people. We help people.

We help find people. We help find animals”.

“You save us from naughty people,” added one child.

Pruismann selected the NEH and Stratford school because neither

community maintains its own police department and his presence gives

children an opportunity to see a peace officer in a casual setting.

“I think this is going great,” said NEH Principal Mike Kruger. “I think

it is terrific to have a police presence at school and students learn that

the police are here to help and protect them”.

Feedback from students, teachers and parents has been positive, said

Kruger.

“At Parent/Teacher conferences this week, I had a parent tell me how

much their son enjoys Alex coming to the school because their son wants to

be a police officer when he grows up,” explained Principal Kruger.

Deputy Pruismann’s presence helps dispel any fears student may have of

the police, added Principal Kruger.

“I think the program has certainly done that if there was any fear to

begin with,” said Principal Kruger. “If law enforcement were to come in

only once during the year, I believe the uniform and things could be

intimidating, but since the program is done more frequently, students no

longer have the apprehension they would have had the first time as they are

developing a relationship”.