Blood Tribe Police Service goes pink to battle bullying

At least for one day, officers with the Blood Tribe Police Service didn’t don the blue on Wednesday.

“I actually love the pink shirt,”Blood Tribe Police Service Senior Constable Donald Roper said. “One lady even told us today that it makes us more approachable.”

Officers were sporting the bright colour in support of Pink Shirt Day which raises awareness about bullying.

“We have national anti-bullying day today and we’re educating the public,” Blood Tribe Police Service Constable Catlin Chiasson said.

At a checkstop in Standoff, officers spent some time educating drivers about the anti-bullying campaign in addition to checking licences and registration papers.

“We’re trying to get across to them that we don’t agree with bullying,” Roper said. “We have information that we can provide to them (along) with phone numbers for children that if they feel that they’ve been bullied and can’t talk to anyone else, they have a number that they can call and talk to somebody that will listen to them.”

It’s the first time the Blood Tribe Police Service has taken part in Pink Shirt Day, taking strides they believe are important within the community.

“There is a lot of bullying that  does take place (in Standoff),” Roper said. “Schools are very closely located to one another, families are very closely related. And a lot of problems do take place from that, and they do feel that they’re bullied. That’s why we’re here.”

Net proceeds from official Pink Shirt Day T-shirts, buttons and pins are donated directly to programs supporting children’s self-esteem.