CLEARWATER - How better to recognize a few good kids than by giving them a year of free swimming?
That's the philosophy of the Clearwater Police Department, which on Wednesday rewarded several young people in the North Greenwood area for various good acts by giving them one-year passes to swim for free at the North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatic Center.
Police gave certificates to more than a dozen young people. Some had turned in drugs they had found at school.
Others fought off an attacker and later gave police the information necessary to arrest him. And some were recognized for having perfect attendance in school or spending a lot of time volunteering.
Sgt. Ben McBride came up with the idea, according to the department, after realizing that many young people in the area had a hard time paying the $2 daily admission fee to the pool.
McBride worked with city Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Dunbar to design the award program, which is called A Good Act.
