Kudos For Kids' Program: Officer Lauded in Marietta

MARIETTA, GA -- A police officer in Marietta is receiving high marks for championing a community-based youth program that trains children to be safe and aware of their surroundings.

The RadKIDS program gives children the tools they need to contend with a number of problems affecting them today: abductions, bullying and internet safety, to name a few.

While RadKIDS' headquarters are located in South Dennis, Massachusetts, their initiatives, such as the Ride Along program, have been instituted across the country, including in Marietta. The police department has participated in the program since 2001, but recent efforts by a local officer have re-energized the city's commitment.

The Marietta Police Department singled out Officer Paul Hill along with local personal injury lawyer Gary Martin Hays for their efforts in trying to make RadKIDS a priority in the city's schools.

"Officer Hill has been aggressively promoting the radKIDS® program within our city schools. He set a goal of teaching this program to every child inside the City’s school system," Marietta police said in a news release.

Martin and his wife started the nonprofit organization Keep Georgia Safe in 2008 to provide safety education and crime prevention training for families.

Hill had a goal of implementing the RadKIDS program in schools by training physical education teachers. But there was one problem. He needed funds to turn the dream into a reality. Hill turned to the community after researching what it would cost to teach every elementary school child the safety techniques of the RadKIDS program.

"Hays, in conjunction with Keep Georgia Safe, quickly agreed to donate the full amount needed to fund the program for the Marietta City Schools," the police said in the news release.

"His generous donation will ensure all employees are certified and able to teach at their respective school. We expect certification of the teachers to take place this summer and implementation of the program into the curriculum in the fall of 2017."

With efforts like these, Hays and Officer Hill are doing what they can to make 2017 a great year for children in Marietta.

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