VERMILION – It’s said it takes a village to raise a child. For over a half a century, Ohio State Patrolman David Harper’s
has brought that ‘village’ together to dedicate its time and resources to mentor children who are wards of children services agencies throughout Lorain County. Harper, an orphan himself, started the program in 1962 as a way to give back to children, who grew up under similar circumstances as he did, and to show them that the police were not people who should be feared. As orphanages closed, and children services agencies and foster homes developed, Harper’s gift to community children morphed from an all-day picnic into a weeklong extravaganza, now in its 52nd year. Lorain police Sgt. Robert Brown has spent nearly 20 years of his career camping alongside fellow officers, troopers, deputies and rangers, all in an effort to change kids’ perception of local law enforcement and to show them they too can succeed at anything they do. By interacting with the 7- to 16-year-olds in an un-official capacity, officers are able to mold values and behaviors which they can carry into their home lives and use to develop their futures. ‘These kids are really good kids,’ Brown said. ‘They just don’t have, in many circumstances, the direction or the home life that they need; and they become high-risk youth.’ This year, 41 boys have been given the opportunity to camp, swim, roller skate and enjoy numerous other summertime activities that they may otherwise have never had the opportunity to experience. To make it all possible, donations from local businesses and private donors have been plentiful, Brown said. (
.) Along with camping at Mill Hollow Vermilion River Reservation and daily activities provided by businesses throughout Lorain County, kids get a chance to experience once-in-a-lifetime opportunities including airplane and boat rides. Community groups, fraternal orders, club owners and military veterans’ posts have also donated generously to provide meals and services throughout the week. ‘I think a lot of the civic organizations like the idea that the police are trying to give back to helping some of the kids so they can become productive,’ Elyria police Officer Mark Mitchell said. ‘And plus, I think they like the fact that 100 percent of this goes to the kids. Nobody gets a salary.’ ‘Without the support of the local community, it would be very difficult for this to happen every year,’ Brown added. ‘We’re very fortunate. A lot of people have opened their lives and businesses for us.’ Law enforcement officials have also made huge contributions by trading in a week’s vacation to spend their time alongside children. Brown admits during his early years with the program, he overlooked the value of the program. Now, the sergeant reaps the benefits while serving as a police officer. ‘I joined in ’92, but I really didn’t know what it was,’ Brown said. ‘You might not have a feeling the first year or two, or the very first moment that you’re down here, but once you see a kid who comes up to you and kind of latches on to you – whether it’s here or on the street – it gives you a glimpse, at least, of the end result. And you see that the program really helps steer them in the right direction as they get older.’ These relationships have grown beyond the bounds of the streets, and many campers have taken their experiences from Operation Open Heart and used them to develop careers of their own. ‘Historically, we’ve had guys over the history of the program who have gone into the military or law enforcement,’ Brown said. ‘These are guys who have grown into their roles and are now trying to raise their own families the right way.’ ‘You see these kids come full circle,’ Mitchell said. ‘That’s what makes it worthwhile and rewarding.’
