MPD officer finds new ‘beat’ during job shadow program

MADSON, Wis. –  As a patrol officer, Sydney Hanick is used to working a beat.

But during a recent shift on the north side, she found herself covering a different kind of beat. One involving a musical mashup and the kids who attend after-school programing through the Kennedy Heights Community Center.

“Dance battles are big around here,” said Brittney Kuster, the Youth Program Coordinator for the center.

She and Officer Hanick were paired together during the latest round of the Madison Proximity Project, a job shadow program started by the MPD earlier this year.

During her visit, Officer Hanick was asked to play dress-up and participate in one of the Center’s famous dance battles.

“You can see the kids love it here,” Officer Hanick said.

The Center’s after-school programming is geared toward elementary and middle school students living nearby. Students are served a snack, provided with homework help and given ample time to play and hang out with one another. 

“We focus on building relationships. We want the kids to connect with the staff and their peers,” Kuster said.

The Center was founded in the 1980s and expanded to its current home in 1994. In addition to its after-school care, it offers summer camps, adult resource programs, a food pantry, community-event space and wellness services. You can learn more about the Center’s impact on the north side on its website. 

This is the first round of the Madison Proximity Project. The program pairs an MPD officer with a community member. The officer shadows the community member, and, in return, that person goes on a police ride-along.

Anyone interested in participating in future rounds of the project can email Madison Police Department's Community Engagement Specialist Alex Ricketts at aricketts@cityofmadison.com.