There are any number of important stops deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office make every week in the course of their law enforcement duties. Among these are stopping by the county’s elementary schools to join students for lunch and recess.

On Tuesday, Dec. 15, it was Sheriff Todd Brackett’s turn to join the students at Southport Central School while the students had lunch. The 23 children in grades pre-K through 6 were untroubled by having a member of law enforcement in their midst and that is one of the goals of the “dining with a deputy” program, which Brackett started a few years ago after a series of problems at schools in other areas.

“Through this program, we get to know the staff and the layout of the school,” he explained. “We’re familiar with them and they’re familiar with us.”

 “The children have become comfortable with law enforcement,” Southport Principal Marcelle Durost added. “And law enforcement gets to know the children and the school building,” she continued. “The children understand that they can trust the deputies.” New deputies are introduced to the students and given a tour of the school. Brackett particularly expressed his appreciation for the support that the schools and the parents have given to the program.

So what do elementary school children and the county sheriff talk about over lunch? As it turns out, a variety of subjects. Brackett was treated to a summary of the community concert the evening before with an offer to perform the songs. And a group of young ladies were especially curious about arrests, tasers and working hours. When the brief lunch time was over, the children headed outdoors for kickball and the sheriff followed them outside to join the recess.