Nothing says summertime like sunshine + popsicle-stained sticky fingers. And the Lexington Police Department is helping to bring a sprinkle of sweetness around town with its special police vehicle — the Operation Copsicle van.
We spoke with LPD to learn more about this community-building initiative.
A sweet start
Despite helping to spark a national campaign, Operation Copsicle has humble local beginnings. It started in the summer of 2017 when Officer Ryan Holland brought free popsicles to the kids at Douglass Park .
Officer Holland began a fundraiser to help fill the freezer + in less than a month he collected ~72,000 popsicles for kids in Lexington.
Expansion
After garnering attention from national snack brands Jel Sert and Fla-Vor-Ice , “Pops from Cops” was born. The partnership brought 80,000 popsicles to LPD for use in our community. The idea grew + expanded to law enforcement agencies across the country.
As the program grew, so did the ideas. The thought of a “Copsicle” van came about after connecting with a fellow officer in Massachusetts. Officer Holland pitched the idea and Chief Lawrence Weathers gave it the green light in 2021.
In less than a month, Officer Holland and the Lexington Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association raised $45,000+ to purchase the van.
More than just a van
The Operation Copsicle van can be spotted serving smiles + sweet treats in neighborhoods around the city. Depending on availability, it also makes appearances at various community events.
Fun fact: The van also doubles as an entertainment center — featuring a large outdoor movie screen, projector, audio system, and a popcorn machine.
The program is currently looking for sponsors to help cover movie-licensing fees in hopes of bringing family-friendly movie nights to the community. You can get more information on how to help by reaching out here
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