The Starkville Police Department posted videos on its Facebook page showing Cpl. Tonya McWhirter’s students from ICS Head Start dancing with Daren the mascot and taking part in a safety lesson on what to do if approached by someone they do not know.
The department described the post as “Cuteness alert… everyone loves Daren,” and shared brief clips of children eager to dance with the mascot. The videos were part of an apparent community outreach effort by the department.
Head Start is a federal program that provides early childhood education, health, and family services to low-income children and families; local Head Start centers often partner with community organizations for safety and educational activities. Police departments commonly use mascots and hands-on demonstrations to engage young children and teach age-appropriate safety behaviors.
The Starkville Police Department did not provide additional details in the post about the lesson plan or timing of the visit. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
