Jackson officer connects with public through art, awareness
Jackson Township residents who see unusual decorations or graphics on a township police SUV can rest assured it’s another project by officer Abigail Evans, who is pursuing a program to raise awareness of various causes while connecting with the public.
Evans decorated the hood of her marked police SUV with a large pink ribbon graphic in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This month, Evans outfitted the SUV with puzzle pieces in four specific colors in recognition of Autism Acceptance Month.
Evans decorated the vehicle’s front push bar and back tailgate with the Autism Society of America puzzle pieces, which will remain until the end of April.
“This is our second time,” Evans said of decorating the vehicle for a cause. “It shows acceptance within the community, no matter what, and it’s part of the community aspect of policing.”
Terry Seilhamer, Jackson Township police chief, said the project helps officers connect with residents.
“We try to get people to understand that we are not just about stopping people when they do something wrong,” Seilhamer said. “We’re trying to show them we are their partners in the community.”
Evans worked with Seneca Valley Senior High School graphic arts teacher Joseph Logsdon and his students to choose the best way to display the puzzle pieces on her police vehicle.
Logsdon said he announced the project to his advanced experience graphics class, and senior Tanner Huckstein jumped at the chance to come up with a design for the puzzle pieces on the police car.
“Tanner is an all-around good kid, and he saw an opportunity to apply what he has learned and apply his creativity, and it probably helped him feel more involved in the community and gave him a sense of pride,” Logsdon said.
He appreciates that Evans thought of art students in pursuing the Autism Acceptance Month project.
“I hope we can build a partnership and do more of these kinds of projects,” Logsdon said.
Evans had the puzzle pieces designed and cut by a company in Pittsburgh.
She said the pieces have generated a lot of buzz since being applied last week.
“A lot of people have asked what (the puzzle pieces) are for, and we inform them it’s Autism Acceptance Month,” Evans said. “Next month, we’re doing a gray ribbon for Brain Tumor Awareness Month.”
Seilhamer said Evans, his most recent hire, stood out during the interview process as the obvious top candidate for the open position on the Jackson Township police force.
“She shows a lot of initiative and interest in the community,” Seilhamer said of Evans. “She’s an excellent police officer and I think it’s great to have someone as young as her who is so interested in community relations.”
