Plush. Cute. Adorable.

Not usually the words used to describe tools that help RCMP officers.

North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers is rolling out Trauma Bears to support frontline police operations.

The local Crime Stoppers purchased 200 plush bears, which have been named Roary and Cooper, for distribution to RCMP detachments in Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby, Lumby, Falkland, Salmon Arm, Sicamous and Revelstoke.

The bears will be put in police vehicles, and are available to officers to hand out to children impacted by a trauma or other significant event.

害羞草研究所淎s first responders, whether it害羞草研究所檚 at a collision, fire, or other emergency, we often interact with kids who have been exposed to some form of trauma,害羞草研究所� said Const. Chris Terleski, media relations officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP.

害羞草研究所淭o give a child a plush bear might seem like a small thing, but in that moment, it害羞草研究所檚 a small thing that can have a big impact. We害羞草研究所檙e really thankful to our local Crime Stoppers Society for their support.害羞草研究所�

North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers president Julie Pilon said the bears are an excellent way for the society to make a tangible difference.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 part of Crime Stoppers害羞草研究所� commitment to giving back and supporting youth in our community,害羞草研究所� said Pilon. 害羞草研究所淲e hope these bears can ease the difficulty of what害羞草研究所檚 happening for these children at least a little bit and provide some comfort for them.害羞草研究所�

Local Crime Stoppers services Armstrong, Enderby, Falkland, Vernon, Coldstream, Lumby, Sicamous, Salmon Arm, Blind Bay, Sorrento and Revelstoke.

To submit a tip to Crime Stoppers call 1-800-222-8477 or go online to .

害羞草研究所� North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers is raising funds by holding its annual Shred-A-Thon, where you can papers that need shredding, and make a minimum donation of $8 to the society.

A successful Shred-A-Thon was held in Vernon this past weekend at the Real Canadian Wholesale Club, with Interior Mobile Shredding doing the, er, paperwork.

There will be Crime Stoppers Shred-A-Thons in Armstrong Saturday, June 22, at the Askew害羞草研究所檚 parking lot, and in Salmon Arm on Saturday, Oct.19, at Piccadilly Mall. Both events will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.