LEWISTON — Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care’s B Street Head Start and pre-kindergarten classrooms recently had the opportunity to visit and tour the Lewiston Police Department. Tour guides and community resource officers Robert Ullrich and Thomas Murphy walked the 30 children, ages three to five, from the center to the police department.

After splitting up into two groups, Ullrich and Murphy showed the children the briefing room, enjoyed the view from Police Chief Michael Bussiere’s office, explained how a taser was used and demonstrated safety equipment, toured the exercise room and gave the children the opportunity to sit in a cruiser and run the sirens.

Estelle Rubinstein, executive director of Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care, said “The relationship we have with the Community Resource Officers from the Lewiston Police Department is wonderful. Not only do they provide positive role models for the children, but through their visiting our classrooms for lunch or to read stories, as well as giving them a tour of the police station, the officers are making the children comfortable with law enforcement and showing them that they are friendly and nice. We are so grateful for all that the Lewiston Police Department community resource officers have done for the children in Head Start.”

The Community Resource Office, at 292 Bates St., was founded in 2010 by Bussiere to work within the Lewiston community to address community issues. Community resource officers can be reached at 786-2405.

Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care has provided quality early care and educational services to pregnant women, families, and children for more than 44 years. Services are provided annually to more than 400 children and families throughout Androscoggin County.

Applications for all programs are accepted at any time. Call 795-4040, ext. 325 for more information or visit www.androscogginheadstart.org.

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