Public Safety Teams Up With City Police for Kids Summer Camp

The Department of Public Safety has teamed up with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police this week to help with its 2014 Cops and Kids Summer Camp.

Designed as a unique experience for Pittsburgh-area youth to understand and explore various aspects of policing and public safety, the free camp provides children ages 10 to 14 with a week-long session that focuses on positive interactions with police officers. Duquesne University is co-hosting the July 7 to 14 session.

“This year’s theme is education, and when Duquesne was approached, we jumped right on board,” said Sgt. Frank Cortazzo of the public safety department. “The University leadership and public safety have always promoted engagement in the community, so when Capt. [Michael] Sippey asked me if we could do this, there was no doubt in my mind that we could help.”

According to Cortazzo, eight Duquesne public safety officers are volunteering with nearly 20 Pittsburgh police officers to work with almost 55 kids participating in the Cops and Kids Summer Camp, part of which is being held on campus.

Activities at Duquesne include campus “college” tours conducted by the University police officers, outdoor sports on McCloskey Field and educational workshops on awareness of Internet safety and cyberbullying as well as crime scene investigation and gun safety. Off-campus activities include visits to a local food bank, Highmark Stadium and Heinz Field, swimming and rock/wall climbing.

“Everybody on campus has been so cooperative and happy to step up and help with the camp,” explained Cortazzo who, along with the other officers/volunteers, had to get special clearance to work with the kids and the camp. “This camp has provided a perfect opportunity to be involved in the community, and it’s also very rewarding and a lot of fun.”