Laguna police lunch and talk with shelter teens

Laguna Beach police shared a slice of cop cultural history while dining with teenagers and answering their questions Wednesday as part of an ongoing partnership with the Laguna Beach Youth Shelter.

Police Chief Laura Farinella, along with captains Jason Kravetz and Darin Lenyi, ate lunch with the group, talking informally and attempting to put a human face to the badge and uniform. Shelter staff prepared grilled steak soft tacos with all the fixings.

This was the second of a monthly series Farinella, who began in Laguna in March, instigated after approaching shelter director Carol Carlson.

“[Farinella] asked, ‘What can I do?’” said Carlson, who responded with, “I would love it if the kids learned about law enforcement from a different perspective, to build comfort with officers and not be afraid of them.”

The youth shelter offers temporary housing for six kids ages 11 to 17 who are at risk of homelessness, incarceration or hospitalization. Santa Ana-based Community Service Programs operates the Laguna Beach shelter on Catalina Street, along with a 12-bed facility in Huntington Beach. Kids receive meals, 24-hour supervision, academic tutoring, and counseling.

“They are at a critical stage in life,” Farinella said. “We want to make sure there is a positive interaction and trust.”

To maintain their safety, shelter residents could not be photographed or quoted.

One girl asked why police officers visit doughnut shops.

“Before Starbucks, the only stores open 24 hours were doughnut shops,” Kravetz said. “Officers would sit inside and write police reports.”

Farinella asked residents what they wanted to do upon entering the workforce.

Answers ranged from software engineer to actor and animation director. A few kids showcased their musical prowess in the living room after lunch.

One boy played guitar while another girl sang lyrics to the Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah.”

The group moved outside and glanced inside the police SUV, looking where suspects sit en route to the station — on seats that are not cushioned.

“The back was not made for comfort,” Lenyi said. “There is no place to hide things and anyone in the back seat we check for weapons.”

Shelter officials are accepting donations to provide more beds for youths in northern Orange County. The agency has established an account with the fundraising website GoFundMe in hopes of collecting $1 million to buy property.

“With another home, we aim to eliminate the wait lists at our other shelters to immediately serve youth in crisis,” according to a description on the website.

In addition, Carlson said they would like to enlarge the Laguna Beach shelter’s dining room to bring more people to the table. She estimated it could cost $25,000 for the work.