The man who handed it over was a uniformed police officer.

The St. Louis Police Department began its agency-operated ice cream truck initiative called Operation Polar Cops at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis on Tuesday. Ice cream truck organizers say they want to build a positive rapport with children and families across the city.

“Law enforcement realizes the need to bridge gaps in our community. It is more important than ever to engage citizens and build trust,” Police Chief Sam Dotson said in a news release. “Operation Polar Cops is a unique tool to reach our youngest citizens.”

Dotson said the department wanted the ice cream truck to introduce officers as role models in neighborhoods, noting fond memories of police from his childhood. He said the idea was inspired by an ice cream truck initiative started by the Boston Police Department.

The truck cost about $16,000 and was bought with money donated by the St. Louis Police Foundation. Prairie Farms Dairy is expected to donate more than 6,000 frozen and ice cream desserts. The department is slated to buy future goods from Schnuck Markets Inc. at a discount.

Between intermittent licks of ice cream, Taeshaun, 8, a participant at the Boys & Girls Clubs, said he liked the idea of the truck because he was excited about the free ice cream.

The ice cream truck will appear at parks, community centers, churches, schools and special events throughout the city.

Lt. Col. Ronnie Robinson said the ice cream initiative was a start to rebuilding trust.

“No, it’s not enough. But it’s a start,” Robinson said. “So, we’re not expecting this to solve everything and all the problems that we have overnight. But what we want to do is have something that makes an impression on our children.”

Robinson said other community initiatives included gang intervention and employment programs.