CARROLL LAW ENFORCEMENT PREPARING FOR CAMP COPS

Police are looking for people in Carroll County who fit a certain
description: children between the ages of 10 and 13. They want the
youngsters to attend Camp COPS, which will run from July 7 through 11 at
the Carroll County Farm Museum. COPS stands for Courage to be Outstanding
with Pride and Self-confidence. The camp is run by the Maryland State
Police, with help from the Carroll County sheriff's office and the
Westminster Police. The goal, according to Trooper First Class Mark Rauser,
is to give young people an inside view of what law enforcement officers do.

It also helps to build self-confidence and teamwork, he said, through a
combination of physical activity and competition.

Officers from all three departments involved will be there to work with the
campers, Rauser said.

Last year, 75 children attended the camp, he said. This year, he said, he
is hoping that number will grow to 100.

Col. Robert Keefer of the sheriff's office, said the camp is an example of
cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the county. He said not
only do the campers get a chance to meet police officers, officers also get
the chance to build good relationships with young people.

But to Keefer, one of the most important aspects of the camp is that it
teaches kids teamwork by putting them in squads.

Cpl. Keith Benfer of the Westminster police said that during the five days,
he's seen kids grow from individuals into teammates.

On the first day, he said, the squads don't function very well as a team,
he said, but by the end, they work well together, and the competition
between squads can be fierce.

The goal, he said, is to teach the campers the value of respect, and how
respecting others can help them resolve problems.

Benfer has been part of the camp since 2000, the first year Westminster
participated. The camp started in 1999, he said.

He said he likes to see the kids realize that they're all in it together,
and that they have to work together to meet their goals.

Reach staff writer Jamie Kelly at 410-857-7890 or jamiek@lcniofmd.com

Camp COPS

Camp COPS is open to all boys and girls in Carroll County who have
graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.

The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 7 through 11. It is free, and
is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 20.

Campers will see demonstrations by Maryland State Police aviation division,
K-9 team, motorcycle unit and bicycle patrol, among others.

The registration deadline is June 10, according to Trooper First Class Mark
Rauser of the Maryland State Police Westminster barrack.

Anyone interested in registering should pick up a brochure at the
Westminster barrack, the Carroll County sheriff's office or the Westminster
City Police Department.