Instead, the officers were greeted by students loudly chanting “JPD,” “JPD,” JPD” while holding signs in support of the department during National Police Week.

“It was a good surprise,” Conti said afterward. “I thought we were doing a lock down drill.”

Kathryn Benson, Bush school principal, said Tamu Reinhardt from the Jamestown Public Schools district office sent word of National Police Week, held in May annually recognizing police officers. Benson shared the information with her team at Bush, “and we began brainstorming ideas that we could do to celebrate our local Jamestown Police Department.”

Benson noted that officers often walk through the building greeting students and staff as well as assisting with emergency response drills.

Pictured are McKinley, Conti and Matt Rhinehart, community resource officer.

School leaders asked JPD to send officers Monday for an 11 a.m. drill.

“Instead of running a drill, we plan to cheer and celebrate them with thank you posters as they walk through the hallways,” Benson said before the officers arrived. “We are so thankful for their support on a regular basis when it comes to staff and student safety.”

When Conti, McKinley and Matt Rhinehart, community resource officer, entered the school, they were quickly met with dozens of cheering students, many holding signs. The officers then walked the halls, giving many students high-fives.