Monroe Police Community Day is a hit

MONROE-Monroe Police Community Day last weekend served as the backdrop for an Eagle Scout project by Thomas Raco, a 15-year-old who moved from Brooklyn about three years ago. He helped out police in safety-related activities such as child fingerprinting and photographing. Besides earning merit badges, community-based service is required. Raco started out as a Wolf Scout nine years ago. An Eagle Scout project is intended to expose the scout to the planning and implementation of a service or benefit to the community, with the leadership needed to see it through. Raco has family members who are or have been involved with scouting, but none have made it to Eagle Scout. He thinks what he may one day want to become is a chef, saying, "I make my own dishes now." Only about four percent of Boy Scouts attain the rank of Eagle Scout n which equates to about one million earning the rank since 1911. And, what a deal Monroe Police Department's Community Safety Day had for parents n free car seats. The seats are available through a federal grant at no cost to local taxpayers, said Detective Jim Frankild. "If the seat parents have isn't appropriate for the child, or if they need one and don't have one, then we'll give them one. A lot of seats have defects, were recalled, or are just way too old." "It doesn't go by weight any longer. If they're under four they need to be in a car seat by law," Frankild added. "If they're over four, generally between the ages of four and eight, they need a booster seat. It's not the law, but it's the best recommended practice." The police department also offered DNA swabbing and bike safety information. Kids got a kick out of being in a jail cell and taking a peek at the 911 center. Raco thanked those who helped him with his project, including Monroe Police Chief Dominic W. Guidice, Thomas Carton (of the Fraternal Order of Police) who donated the fingerprinting kits, BJ's Wholesale Club, Amendola Restaurant, Artistic Images, Staples, WalMart, Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush Funeral Home, Fran's Hallmark and the Monroe Stop & Shop Supermarket.