Students in Freeport participated in the Adopt-a-Cop police mentoring program Wednesday.

Village police officers met with hundreds of fourth-graders at the Freeport Rec Center for a year-end celebration of the 21st annual Adopt-a-Cop program.

"It's a great program for the officers to get to know the kids, but more importantly for the kids to know the officers," says Freeport Police Chief Miguel Bermudez. "It's not just a person in a uniform anymore, it's a real person, it's an individual and they get to know them like their family members or close friends."

Officials say five officers joined the force after being inspired by the Adopt-a-Cop program.

The department says many students keep in touch with their mentors long after the program ends.