Police chief teaches friendship at Prospect Park School

PROSPECT PARK >> A Prospect Park School alumnus laid down the law to firstand second-grade students about one of the most important aspects of life: Friendship.

Harrisburg-area Police Chief Robert Martin stopped by his old school Tuesday morning to share with dozens of students his first effort as a children’s author, “One Good Day The Adventures of Rocky and Scout,” an easy read to the young students about having friends and being friendly.

“Commit to being a good friend … friends are there for each other,” Martin told the students who filled the school’s gym. And where a better place to start than at school?

Martin said he didn’t have the happiest home life growing up in Prospect

Park. School was his happy place.

“Share a special bond as classmates because you need to be there for each other,” he said.

Copies of the book were donated to each student at Tuesday’s assembly all inscribed with a special message Martin wrote, something like “I’m so very proud of you.”

“Having grown up in a home environment I grew up in I wanted them to know we’re very proud of them,” he said after the assembly. “That sense of resiliency that those positive comments give a child is vital for those kids.”

An over 30-year veteran of the Susquehanna Township Police Department, Martin said this career gave him the platform to see how good communities can be and the friendships that can be formed in them.

Working in law enforcement allows officers to “touch a lot of hearts.”

“It’s a very few people who make mistakes and a lot of people who make mistakes had a lapse in judgment, something happened in their life. As I write in my book, we’re not here to judge each other. We’re here to get each other through each day,” he said. “My career in law enforcement has reinforced my belief in humanity.”

Martin left the students with small rules of wisdom to take with them: One, that kindness is the greatest force in the world, and two, attitude is a decision.

Prospect Park School accepted the books from Martin and a cash donation of $1,500. School Principal Rob Kelly said the donation would be used for the school’s community giving initiatives.

“One Good Day - The Adventure of Rocky and Stout” is available to purchase at barnesandnoble. com and amazon.com.

KEVIN TUSTIN - MEDIANEWS GROUP Police chief and children’s author Robert Martin read his new book “One Good Day- The Adventures of Rocky and Scout” to students at Prospect Park School.

The cover art for Robert Martin’s first children’s book. He signed dozens of copies of his book that were given to first- and secondgrade students at Prospect Park School.