Plush. Cute. Adorable.

Not usually the words used to describe tools that help RCMP officers.

North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers is rolling out Trauma Bears to support frontline police operations.

The local Crime Stoppers purchased 200 plush bears, which have been named Roary and Cooper, for distribution to RCMP detachments in Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby, Lumby, Falkland, Salmon Arm, Sicamous and Revelstoke.

The bears will be put in police vehicles, and are available to officers to hand out to children impacted by a trauma or other significant event.

鈥淎s first responders, whether it鈥檚 at a collision, fire, or other emergency, we often interact with kids who have been exposed to some form of trauma,鈥� said Const. Chris Terleski, media relations officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP.

鈥淭o give a child a plush bear might seem like a small thing, but in that moment, it鈥檚 a small thing that can have a big impact. We鈥檙e really thankful to our local Crime Stoppers Society for their support.鈥�

North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers president Julie Pilon said the bears are an excellent way for the society to make a tangible difference.

鈥淚t鈥檚 part of Crime Stoppers鈥� commitment to giving back and supporting youth in our community,鈥� said Pilon. 鈥淲e hope these bears can ease the difficulty of what鈥檚 happening for these children at least a little bit and provide some comfort for them.鈥�

Local Crime Stoppers services Armstrong, Enderby, Falkland, Vernon, Coldstream, Lumby, Sicamous, Salmon Arm, Blind Bay, Sorrento and Revelstoke.

To submit a tip to Crime Stoppers call 1-800-222-8477 or go online to .

鈥� North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers is raising funds by holding its annual Shred-A-Thon, where you can papers that need shredding, and make a minimum donation of $8 to the society.

A successful Shred-A-Thon was held in Vernon this past weekend at the Real Canadian Wholesale Club, with Interior Mobile Shredding doing the, er, paperwork.

There will be Crime Stoppers Shred-A-Thons in Armstrong Saturday, June 22, at the Askew鈥檚 parking lot, and in Salmon Arm on Saturday, Oct.19, at Piccadilly Mall. Both events will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.