Perspective changes when there is a personal connection.

By breaking down barriers between law enforcement officers and the community they serve, we create stronger communities. Focusing on youth engagement, provides officers the opportunity to build a foundation of trust. The book is part of a program to humanize officers in the eyes of the youngest residents. By learning to see officers as humans first, the books create positive interaction and capture the heartfelt side of why officers choose to serve & protect their communities.
The illustrations reveal personal information about each officer, such as their hobbies, feelings, family, pets, goals, and why they choose to serve. Kids & community members of all ages can identify with officers by discovering what they have in common. Residents find that there are numerous ways they share a common bond, such as appearance, gender, family, pets, hobbies or preferences for food, sports team and places they have lived. As the Apex book points, daily an officer puts on their uniform one leg, one arm, one sock at a time- just like the individuals in the get dressed for their day.

This unconventional tool opened dialogue in a way that both the officer’s & kids found exciting and evoking new shared memories & experiences. Discovering common ground created joyful exchanges, helping build trust and cultivating a positive perception of law enforcement officers.
The buzz generated by the first book in the community, on social media and in broadcast news led another department to act swiftly for us to design a book for their agency. Our company wanted to see this type of project in motion in the community to effect change & advance positive perception of the role of community police. The opportunity to flex our graphic design skills on something truly unique & artistic was a bonus. Each officer story page was hand drawn and then crafted by our team member Isabel's hand.

Featured below- Officer Carter a key collaborator on this project in her alter ego- Elf Lucy, who's impish side helps residents keep their valuables safe at the holidays and reminds them key tips for personal safety too!
Quantifying emotion is impossible, but the smiles generated by these books between officers & youth is undeniable & unsurpassed. Officers captured in video and discussion use these words & phrases to capture the book’s success.
• I like being seen as human
• We are not robots. We are real people
• We have a life outside the uniform
• We are part of the community
• People can see we have a heart
• It’s not us vs them
• I became an officer to “be here” for our community
• We are changing hearts & minds
• The books are a positive Influence
• The books show we give back
• We are breaking down barriers through our stories
• It’s fun to feel like a celebrity. Kids want our autograph
• The books allow people to connect to us as individuals
The storybooks capture the human inside the uniform & make officers relatable to the public they serve. Community police efforts nationwide exist to help change negative public perception of the officers that choose to serve & the laws they are sworn to enforce.

Officers enjoyed being seen as human. They are sworn an oath to protect & serve with laws they did not create, to keep the community safe & strong. It’s easier to communicate & navigate challenges when you’ve established common ground.
By engaging with youth, these departments are establishing a foundation to build trust & creating an environment receptive to dialogue in the future. Bridges open channels for communication, help tension decrease and increase respect between individuals, resulting in stronger & safer communities; together.
Result?
Our team is thrilled that this collaboration resulted in another book with the Shaker Heights Police Department in Ohio and both books created community engagement. The buzz around these books caught the attention of both our industry partners- ASI and PPAI.
Promotional Partners was awarded:
2024 ASI Counselor Magazine Best Client Promotion of the Year for collaboration & illustration of community policing books.
2025 PPAI Gold Pyramid Award Winner- Client Programs – Social Responsibility Programs
Learn more about what's behind these prestigious awards in our last post.

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