Last week the students at Pinehurst Elementary School were treated to a visit from one of the Shoshone County sheriff’s deputies.

Deputy Cody Duce spent part of his day handing out candy canes and interacting with the students, many of whom spent their valued lunch recess time asking him questions.

PES principal Mike Groves believes this visit ties directly to an initiative from Sheriff Mike Gunderson, who is hoping to see his department take a more prominent role in the community.

“Sheriff Gunderson has put an emphasis on the deputies being a presence in and involved in the community,” Groves said. “One area in particular he emphasizes is the schools. Deputy Duce took the initiative under that theme and purchased 400 plus candy canes that he shared with the students.”

And it was an absolute hit with the kids.

“The kids loved it,” Groves said. “They couldn't wait to get their candy cane and have a chance to talk to him. Several even stayed back from recess to talk more with him and there were several hugs exchanged.”

While Gunderson’s community initiative is important for everyone in Shoshone County, student outreach is becoming more and more important.

“It's good for the kids to have a positive interaction with law enforcement,” Groves said. “In some cases, the only interactions from the kid's perspective is negative because the police are at the house to deal with relatives. Things like this reinforce to the kids that law enforcement is the good guys and that they can call on them when they need help.”

Groves, a reserve police officer himself, is going to continue to promote law enforcement interaction at PES.

“This is not the first interaction between law enforcement and students at Pinehurst Elementary,” Grove said, “and it won't be the last.”