A Special First Day of School: Changhua Police Escort Children and Teach Them to Stay Safe

Changhua’s first-day-of-school welcome came with police escorts, traffic lessons and a memorable whistle performance from a retired officer known as “Whistle Brother.”

The county police department deployed 212 officers and 207 child-protection volunteers under its school safety operation. They helped elementary students cross roads and instructed them to use pedestrian crossings and watch for vehicles approaching from both directions.

The lessons also covered personal safety. Students were told to seek immediate help from teachers or police if strangers lingered nearby or behaved suspiciously, and to respond bravely when strangers tried to approach them.

Deputy County Magistrate Chou Chieh visited Pinghe Elementary School in Changhua City because County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei was overseas. Chou said 99 of Changhua’s 173 elementary schools had applied for the protection program.

The Changhua Police Precinct also invited retired officer Chiang Tun-lin to serve as a volunteer. Known locally as “Whistle Brother,” Chiang directed traffic with a distinctive whistle rhythm and hand signals, drawing attention from parents, teachers and students. Police precincts across the county combined traffic assistance with safety classes so children could arrive at school safely and return home happily.