Bend PD’s ‘Operation Chill’ rewards good deeds

School’s out for summer, and kids in Bend may actually look forward to their next encounter with the “heat” this summer, thanks to 7-Eleven® stores’ popular Operation Chill program that rewards positive behavior with a very cool treat.

Through Operation Chill®, law enforcement officers from participating local police and sheriff’s departments can “ticket” youngsters caught in the act of doing good with Slurpee® beverage coupons.

Appropriate “offenses” might include helping another person, deterring crime or participating in a positive activity in the community. Each coupon can be redeemed for a small Slurpee drink at participating 7-Eleven stores.

Since the program’s inception in 1995, more than 12 million Operation Chill coupons have been distributed to hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the country in areas where 7-Eleven operates stores.

During 2013, approximately 600,000 coupons will be issued nationally; 500 of those will be distributed in Bend, most during the summer months and back-to-school season.

“The coupons are great for officers who are on patrol in the community”, says Bend police Lt. Chris Carney. “It is a way to encourage interaction in a non-threatening, non-law-enforcement situation, where we can reward our youth for doing something right.”

Operation Chill was developed by 7-Eleven, Inc. to positively reward and encourage good behavior by kids during the hot summer months, when communities may experience increases in loitering, shoplifting and graffiti, and to support law enforcement agencies’ community relations projects. Police use the Operation Chill program to reward youth for their good deeds as well as enhance their relations with the young people of their city.

“This program is a big hit with both law enforcement agencies and kids,” said Jeff Hetherington, director of 7-Eleven Asset Protection. “Police officers have told us they love having a positive reason to approach kids and thank them for being good citizens.”

Hetherington added that police departments start contacting 7-Eleven early each year to sign up for the annual program.

“With nearly 500 Slurpee coupons available to distribute across Bend through Operation Chill, we hope to see a great deal of good behavior from kids in our community,” Hetherington said.

7-Eleven’s proprietary Slurpee semi-frozen carbonated beverage has generational appeal with slurpers both young and old. More than a half-million Slurpee drinks are purchased each day during the summer at 7-Eleven stores across the country.