These sweet police officers are redefining the phrase "protect and serve" now that they've got their own ice cream truck.

Thanks to the efforts of Officer Darren Derby of the Pittsfield Police Department in Massachusetts, the county's law enforcement recently purchases their own ice cream truck so they can give away ice cream and popsicles to the community.

Derby first got the idea for the initiative after he read about Boston and St. Louis police officers doing something similar. While Pittsfield is a relatively small city, he believed free ice cream to be a good way for law enforcement to build ties with the people.

This is not the first time that Derby has taken a hands-on approach to serving Pittsfield, either - according to iBerkshires, he and a fellow officer have built basketball courts and given away free toys in the past.

Thanks to a slew of donations from community members and local businesses, the county cops can now volunteer their free time with "Operation Copsicle". Derby envisions it being utilized during community events, and for reaching out with compassion after a distressing event.

"It's just another tool," Derby told WNYT. "I look at it as another tool to create a relationship, building trust in the community not just with the kids, but with the adults."

"They (then) realize there is something behind the badge, there's a heart, there's love, there's a connection to everybody. We live in this community. Our children grew up here, we grew up here," he added.

(WATCH the video below)

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