LEWISTON — Sylvia Kane, 11, rode to school in the back of a police car Friday, and her mother was happy about it.

Kane, a sixth-grader at Martel Elementary School, was given a hero’s police escort to school — like how champion athletes are honored — for her achievement of winning the school’s geography bee.

Kane is the first Lewiston student honored with a police escort to school, a small award ceremony and personal congratulations by officers.

At 8:30 a.m. Friday, with blue lights flashing, the police car pulled up in front of the  school. Five officers in blue were there to congratulate Sylvia: Police Chief Mike Bussiere, Deputy Chief Jim Minkowsky, Sgt. Rob Ullrich, officers Craig Johnson and Bill Rousseau.

The chief read the award to Sylvia aloud. Then said, “Congratulations, we’re all very proud of you.”

He then gave her a pop quiz, asking her to name the capital of Texas, then the largest river in the country.

She correctly answered Austin and the Mississippi River. “I think you’re right,” the chief said.

As students looked on, Sylvia was given flowers, applauded, then flanked by the five officers as people took pictures.

The sixth-grader said she was nervous the day before thinking about the escort and attention she’d be getting. Her ride to school in the police cruiser “was comfortable,” she said. Her big smile said more than her words.

The daughter of Kregg and Deana Kane, her mother called the event “phenomenal. She was so excited this morning.”

She described her daughter as a hard-working student. Police recognizing students is a good thing, Deana said. It shows children that police officers not only look out for their safety, but are partners in the community.

Lewiston police agree.

Police deal with negative events most of the time. “Sometimes you walk in a school and they say, ‘Hey, who are you coming for?’” Sgt. Ullrich said. “It’s good for kids to see us walk into school with a reward.”

The Police Department’s Community Resource Team members are meeting with Lewiston school principals to learn what students have done, to plan more awards and escorts. “But it will have to be special,” Ullrich said.

Martel Principal Steve Whitfield and sixth-grade teachers Amy Reed and Sue Whitfield said they were delighted with the attention for academic success. “It’s similar to ways we celebrate athletic success, but we don’t always have opportunities to do that,” Whitfield said. “Anything special like this is a motivator,” Whitney said.

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