Crown Point Police Officer Leslie Malerich holds her 2023 trading card on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, outside the Crown Point Police Station at 124 N. East St. The Crown Point Police Department relaunched its trading program on Friday, with a total of 64 cards to collect. (Photo provided by City of Crown Point)
In Crown Point, the Police Department recently announced the return of their police trading card program. The third edition features 64 cards highlighting the entire department, including specialty units – K-9, motorcycles and bicycles – former officers and other police and city personnel. Each officer will have 1,000 cards to pass out to local children. They were funded through a grant from the Crown Point Community Foundation. A news release also said Crown Point children ages 4 to 12 can participate in the trading card contest underway through Wednesday, November 1, 2023, with the goal of collecting all 64. The program debuted in 1998 and came back in 2002.
The program “helps our youngest community members recognize our officers, as well as lets children and families know our officers are friendly, helpful and approachable,” said Crown Point Police Chief Ryan Patrick. “We’re grateful for the partnership we have with the Crown Point Community Foundation that allows us to again offer this program,” Patrick added. Crown Point children ages 4 to 12 are invited to participate in the department’s trading card contest, with the goal of collecting all 64 trading cards. The contest began Friday, October 6, 2023.
“It is important children only approach officers when they are not actively involved in a police call,” Crown Point Police Cmdr. Norm Isaacs said. “Children are encouraged to wave down officers to obtain a trading card, or they can stop by the police station to collect a card or two.” Isaacs added officers also will be at Crown Point schools every morning and afternoon during student drop-off and pick-up. Once all 64 cards are collected, the child participant and their parent can stop by the police station at 124 N. East Street with their complete collection. The first four participants to collect all 64 cards will receive a prize. A news release from the city said first place will receive a Nintendo Switch or a $200 Target gift card; second place prize will receive a $100 Target gift card; and third and fourth place will each receive a $50 Target gift card. For more information on the program, contact Cmdr. Norm Isaacs at 219-663-2131, ext. 129, or Officer Leslie Malerich at 219-663-2131, ext. 110.
