Some students at Drexel Avenue Elementary School in Westbury got a firsthand lesson in kindness last week, when a group of local detectives made a presentation of holiday gifts at the school.

In conjunction with Drexel's Adopt-A-Cop Program, the Third Squad Detectives unit of Nassau County Police Department's Third Precinct gave fancily wrapped, new winter coats to about 10 fourth graders at the school. The students were selected to receive the gifts for their outstanding personal merit, according to school officials.

"They wanted to give to some of the nicest kids in the school, kids who try hard, who are good citizens," Dr. Lawrence Adams, school psychologist, told the children during the presentation. "When you give from the heart, you give warmth. This is another way of giving warmth."

The Third Squad purchased the gifts using money donated by detectives in the unit, as well as some police officers in the Third Precinct. "The police department spends all year patrolling, enforcing the laws, arresting people. This time of year, we felt it was appropriate to do something of a positive nature to give something back to the community," said Detective John Lavelle, describing the inspiration for the gift presentation, "and to have a positive influence on the youth, and let them know that the police are doing more than just enforcing the law."

Further describing the significance of the presentation, Dr. Adams added, "The police officers are showing how kind they can be."

When he asked the students how they felt about receiving the gifts, one child, smiling, responded, "Proud."

"Happy," said another, "that they're being nice to us, and that we're being nice to each other."

On hand at the presentation were school officials, Third Squad detectives, and police officers involved in the Adopt-A-Cop program, which has been in operation at Drexel Avenue School since the early 1990s. The Adopt-A-Cop program, like the gift presentation from the Third Squad Detectives, aims to foster friendship between the local law enforcement authorities and the children. Through Adopt-A-Cop, police officers visit the school regularly, giving special attention to the 4th grade students. The officers present talks to the children at least twice a month, accompany the children on field trips, and serve as mentors. Among the participating officers is Carlos Rojas, who, during the presentation, told the children, "Always, always do your best in school, and in everything you do, and you'll always succeed."

School Counselor Sheri Alaia, who helped coordinate last week's event, expressed gratitude to the detectives and officers on behalf of the school and the students. "We thank you, from the bottoms of our hearts," she said.