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Good Deed: Children in crisis benefit from Cops Care Bags

Staff Photo by Tierra Hayes / A "Cops Care" care package is pictured on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. The "Cops Care" program collaboration between Unum and the Chattanooga Police Department will provide bags to children at police scenes in an attempt to bring comfort and a distraction. The kits will include items such as a blanket, a stress ball, stuffed animals and coloring books.
Staff Photo by Tierra Hayes / A "Cops Care" care package is pictured on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. The "Cops Care" program collaboration between Unum and the Chattanooga Police Department will provide bags to children at police scenes in an attempt to bring comfort and a distraction. The kits will include items such as a blanket, a stress ball, stuffed animals and coloring books. Staff Photo by Tierra Hayes / A "Cops Care" care package is pictured on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. The "Cops Care" program collaboration between Unum and the Chattanooga Police Department will provide bags to children at police scenes in an attempt to bring comfort and a distraction. The kits will include items such as a blanket, a stress ball, stuffed animals and coloring books.

By Times Free Press Staff 2 min read

photo Contributed photo / Sponsors for the Cops Care Bags are CPD Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, Salvation Army, Air Systems Unlimited, North Cleveland Church of God and City Church. Unum employees collected items recommended by an adverse childhood experiences (ACES) trainer for 600-plus Cops Care Bags that officers can give to vulnerable children.

Chattanooga Police Department officers often encounter children at the worst moments in their young lives, and officers want to help as best they can in those circumstances.

In early 2020, a then-CPD officer and friend of current CPD Officer Alex Forgey shared with Alex’s mom, Ruthie, that he was working a call involving children and was waiting for the Department of Children’s Services. He kept the kids engaged for a while but then ran out of ideas on how to keep them occupied.

Ruthie Forgey, an administrator/officer with the Salvation Army of Greater Chattanooga Area, got to work recruiting sponsors to help create Cops Care Bags. Forgey garnered help from the CPD Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, Salvation Army, Air Systems Unlimited, North Cleveland Church of God, and City Church. Soon after, Chief David Roddy (now retired) got involved, contacting Unum, which agreed to help.

Unum employees stuffed 600-plus Cops Care Bags for officers to distribute to vulnerable children. These collaborative efforts can help change negative outcomes that are often associated with trauma and violence.

Elisa Myzal