“Pizza with the Police” in Geneseo

Sixth grade students from St. Malachy School in Geneseo sit down for lunchtime pizza with officers Kelly Sullivan and George Marquez on Jan. 27. (Supplied photo)

When Devon Schaaf, principal of St. Malachy in Geneseo, was looking at themes for Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 26 – Feb. 1), she wanted “to think of a creative way to support and give back to our community.”

It didn’t take her long to come up with a good starting point: “Kids love pizza.”

Thank you for thinking of us and letting us be a part of the kiddos and staff’s day.” – Casey Disteroft, Geneseo chief of police (pull quote)

And so, of course, do the hard-working adults who serve the community of Geneseo, which led to a second idea, “I thought it would be fun to invite our local police department to come have lunch with the kids.”

All students in kindergarten through grade six participated in the pizza lunch on Monday, Jan. 27, and Schaff said she was not disappointed by the reaction of the students or the police.

ABOUT SERVING THE COMMUNITY

“It was fun to watch the kids and the police officers interact,” she said.

Fifth grade students talk pizza and police with former St. Malachy student and police intern, Cooper Ries. (Supplied photo)

The Geneseo police were touched by the invitation.

“That was awesome,” commented Casey Disteroft, chief of police. “Thank you for thinking of us and letting us be a part of the kiddos and staff’s day.”

This was the first time St. Malachy hosted the “Pizza with the Police” lunchtime event.

Following the success of this year’s event, Schaff said that staff have already started thinking about what they might do next year “to serve the community during Catholic Schools Week.”

St. Malachy students and staff with the Geneseo Police Department (Jamie Shoemaker, detective, in front) (Supplied photo)

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