Lloyd police officers handed out goodie bags and free ice cream cones to local children at the Frozen Ca-boose Ice Cream Parlor during the department’s annual Cops & Cones event.

Lloyd Police Chief James Janso said his department has sponsored the event for about four years, usually in September when children are back in school.

“I have the kids come out to meet our officers and dispatchers and show them some of the equipment that we have,” Janso said. “The Frozen Caboose is a perfect place to do it, and they support us and are a great community-minded business.”

Janso and his officers assemble small bags for the children containing coloring books, stickers, pens, stamps and toy police cars. The children then go inside for a free cone.

“You meet the cops and get a free ice cream cone; I like that,” Janso said.

Janso has long encouraged his department to interact positively with the town’s youth. The department also hosts youth sports nights at the St. Augustine gym.

He said he believes in getting children out of the house and into the fresh fall air, and he hopes they come away from events like Cops & Cones with a positive view of police.

“If one kid decides to become a police officer because of this, then it’s a good experience,” he said.

Jo Burruby and Barbara Lemister own the Frozen Caboose and have supported the event for many years.

“I can’t speak highly enough of them, and anytime we’ve had a problem they’ve always been here,” Burruby said of the Lloyd police.