Illinois Valley police are using Barbie dolls, teddy bears, other toys to help kids in crisis

Peek into the trunk of a local squad car and chances are you’ll find not only a flashlight, a spare and a tire iron but also a Barbie doll. Or a baby blanket. Or a teddy bear.

The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office is among the law enforcement agencies that equip patrol officers with a small supply of toys to be given to distraught children at accident sites or crime scenes.

“We started getting stuffed animals, toys and things that can comfort them,” said Deputy Felecia Rasmussen. “If I’ve got a child who’s been in accident or a domestic situation and they’re freaking out, I give them something that will calm them down and de-escalate the situation.”

More than half the police chiefs interviewed for this story confirmed they discreetly collect children’s toys to be distributed at traumatic scenes where a child is in danger of being psychologically scarred.

“It helps a lot,” said Mike Margis, Oglesby’s assistant police chief. “We’ll give the kid a teddy bear and say, ‘This bear doesn’t have a name. Would you give it a name?’ ”

“It really helps make a connection with the kids, who can be tough to talk to.”

Children respond favorably not only to toys and stuffed animals but also to coloring books, puzzles and stress balls — anything that can divert their attention from the events at hand.

While a variety of toys can do the trick, Rasmussen has found Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars are a can’t-miss choice for boys. Girls will cling to a Barbie or to virtually any doll from Disney hit films, such as “Frozen” or “Encanto.”

Toys can be especially useful when dealing with children diagnosed with autism or other cognitive disorders.

Rasmussen once defused a domestic situation with a 2-year-old boy with autism looking on. The child, she learned, was a fan of the superheroes and she happened to have a Batman action figure in her cruiser that she immediately gave him.

This was in the middle of a domestic and he was running around with his new Batman toy with no cares for what else was going on.”

—  La Salle County Sheriff's Deputy Felecia Rasmussen

“This was in the middle of a domestic,” Rasmussen said, “and he was running around with his new Batman toy with no cares for what else was going on.”

Giving toys to children at crime scenes and crash sites isn’t new — Margis could recall handing out teddy bears 20 years ago — but crisis toys have received a renewed push from law enforcement associations. The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, for example, recently promoted “Sheriff Bear Comfort Kits” containing a teddy bear, coloring book, stickers and a flying disc.

The Bureau County Sheriff’s Office is among the agencies participating in that program, though Sheriff Jim Reed noted it wasn’t the first time his office has distributed crisis toys. The department has previously disbursed toys not only in crisis situations, but also during wait periods with a stranded or abandoned child.

“Sometimes we have to sit with children waiting for a relative to come pick them up,” Reed said. “Then the toys are a great asset to have.”

Ottawa Police Chief Brent Roalson said there’s another advantage: Giving comfort to the most vulnerable also helps ensure good relations with police in the future. He likened crisis toys to what a successful school resource officer or DARE program could achieve with schoolchildren.

“These are a long-term commitments which have a long-lasting and positive impact on our youth,” Roalson said, “which in my opinion will translate to fewer negative contacts or fear and distrust of law enforcement down the road.”