The Kids, Cops & Computers program is breaking barriers. And as an e-buddy with the program, Constable Milton Ferguson is too.

Established in 1998 the program gives disenfranchised kids, computers and Internet access and then pairs them with a police-officer eBuddy.

Ferguson who’s been part of KCC for the past four years, says participating in the program reminds him of an experience that he’s had of a teacher being a mentor.

“The program is doing what teachers do,” he said, “and that’s touching lives through people.”

“The best part of the Kids, Cops & Computers program is that you can actually see the difference a computer and guidance can have on a child,” - Milton Ferguson, Toronto Police Service

The community school liaison officer has had six e-Buddies and although all have been memorable, one student’s experience has left a mark.

“I met a kid in Grade 6 because he got in a fight with another student and I realized he needed direction, you know, a fatherly figure,” explains Ferguson. “I took him myself as an e-buddy and introduced him to the program.”

As e-buddies the two kept in touch with one another regularly through email.

“I would tell him things like you need to treat your sister better or you need to pull up your grades,” says Ferguson.

The fact that the program reaches out to students through technology makes the experience all the more effective, he adds.

“Communicating through e-mail is very useful and instrumental in breaking barriers because you have an avenue where you can speak to those children in their own world,” Ferguson says.

A year later Ferguson still keeps in touch with his e-buddy.

“I called him in person to wish him a happy birthday. I came down with him during school registration and if there’s an event going on, I’ll get him to come along.”

The best part of the Kids, Cops & Computers program says Ferguson, is that you can actually see the difference a computer and guidance can have on a child.

The two paired together go a long way in a child’s life.

They Educate, Motivate, Graduate.