MANCHESTER, NH — Here’s what’s cool: Being 9 and running down the halls of the local police station with a dozen of your best friends, trying not to get caught by the officer in charge.
Here’s what’s even cooler: Doing it with the Chief of Police as your partner in crime.
That was how it went down last week for Zack Telge, 9, who got his birthday wish, which was to tour police headquarters with his friends, thanks to a little fortunate networking.
“It really just happened organically,” says Chief Nick Willard, who has gotten to know Zack’s mother, Christine Paraseau Telge, through the annual Seeds of Hope fashion shows, which support research and patient care at Norris Cotton Cancer Center.
Initially, Telge told Willard that her son loves and admires police officers so much he wanted to know if it was possible to tour the station with his friends as part of his birthday celebration.
“I told her that not only could he have a tour, let’s have his party here at the station, and after we could do the tour,” says Willard.
So Zack, his brother and a small mob of friends descended on the police station. Willard’s community police officers had taken the liberty of setting up the party room table with stickers, pencils and T-shirts at every seat.
The officer in charge obliged by doing a police dog demo for the boys. Zack and his friends also got up close and personal with the police department’s two patrol horses. They had a chance to check out the firing range practice room, and Zack got a chance to sit at the Chief’s desk.
Willard made sure every door opened for Zack on his big day.
“Yeah, I gave him my ID, which allowed him to get into every room, so as we made our way through the station, he was the one who swiped us in,” Willard says.
Willard’s favorite moment was when he revisited his inner 9-year-old boy.
“We were all running down the hall of the police station, and I heard someone coming and I knew it was an officer, so I said, ‘Shhh — everybody stop and get real quiet, and stand here against the wall so we don’t get caught.’ And then an officer pokes his head around the corner and says, ‘Hey, what are you guys doing?’ It was such a mischievous moment, the kind a young boy relishes in, and I was right there with them,” Willard says.
The boys enjoyed pizza, soda and cake, and even gave Willard a lesson in the current dance craze, showing him how to “whip and nae-nae” [Click here to see the video on the MPD Facebook page].
“I think I looked more like I was convulsing, but there I am dancing with the kids, and they’re teaching me this dance, and I look over and I see two officers looking at me through the window. Initially, I’ll admit it; I was embarrassed. But afterwards, they both said, ‘Chief, that was awesome,’ and the embarrassment went away,” Willard says.
“I don’t know if we’re different here, or what. But the women and men of Manchester Police Department value the children of our community so much. We all really want to be that bridge, to show them that law enforcement officers are real people,” Willard says. “And you know what the best part for me is? Knowing that my officers see this profession as I see it. That means the world to me.”
Looking back at the whole experience makes Willard see potential for more community building.
“You know, it wasn’t something we did deliberately. But moving forward, any kid who wants a party here, we’ll do it. If we can increase a child’s appreciation for law enforcement and, perhaps, influence them into wanting to go into law enforcement, I’m all for it,” Willard says.
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