West View Elementary has become the first school in the area to offer students the “Bigs in Blue” program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh.
Throughout the school year, five West View police officers including Chief Bruce Fromlak will serve as one-to-one mentors for five West View Elementary students. They will visit with each other every week during lunch. During the visits, they will play games, do homework, play sports or simply talk with one another.
The goal of “Bigs in Blue” is for students to bond with caring, supportive officers and see police officers not as authority figures but as caring, regular adults. Additionally, the program enables police officers to get to know a student from the community where they serve and have greater presence in North Hills schools.
According to BBBS, students who participate in a site-based program like “Bigs in Blue” see increased academic performance, improved confidence, reduced truancy and higher educational aspirations.