Community: Norton Shores Police Department
Population: 10,000+
RIDE WITH PRIDE is a collaborative effort between Norton Shores Police Department, Mona Shores Public Schools, Muskegon Alcohol Liability Initiative, Ramos Auto Body and Towing, and Nexes Reality.
RIDE WITH PRIDE offers a newer model car and a moped to two students who meet MSPS and NSPD requirements as outlined in the Safe Driving and Positive Behavior Pledge. Students with a valid driver’s license are eligible for the car. All other students are eligible for the moped.
Specifically, the RIDE WITH PRIDE pledge encourages students to practice safe driving habits, abstain from alcohol and drugs, follow the school positive behavior matrix, maintain enrollment, and have no negative school or police contacts of any type.
Ten finalists are selected for each prize and a winner will be randomly rewarded their eligible prize in front of their peers at an assembly near the end of the school year. The remaining 18 runner-ups also receive prizes from generous donations made by community and business leaders.
Replicability:
This award winning program (Michigan Association of Chief of Police Grand Award, Office of Highway Safety and Planning Governor's Traffic Safety Award) has been replicated by the Orchard View school district and new this year by the Fruitport High School and West Michigan Christian High school. The program has been taught at the Traffic Safety Summit in Lansing and the Secondary School Principals conference in Traverse City for all to use. This program has now been replicated at the elementary and middle school levels at Mona Shores Schools. The incentive at these levels is bicycles and long boards.
Creativity and Originality:
The Ride with Pride program is the only program in the state of Michigan that gives a car away as an incentive. The excitement is amazing and the statistics have shown that the program is working. Other schools are joining along with other police department because the word is getting out on the success. The focus is on the Pride of the school and the student not on punishment. That is the secret to success.
Community Impact:
The statistics have been staggering at Mona Shores High School. The number of referrals to the front office have nearly cut in half. The alcohol and drug use has dropped up to 70%. Pride in the school is at an all time high. Cooperation between Law Enforcement and the School districts have grown. The schools and the police department is looked at as a team because we are working together towards one goal which is protective the children. The community becomes a partner in this program by donated prizes and being apart of the celebrations of the success.
