New Bedford Police's Coin Challenge offers ride-along, firearm training, police escort

Frank Mulligan, Standard-Times
·2 min read

NEW BEDFORD - Are you ready to face the New Bedford Police Dept.'s Coin Challenge?

Because if you meet the challenge - the rewards are substantial.

They include the coin itself, which is actually more of an ornamental medalion.

There's also a McDonald's gift card - good at any McDonalds.

And you get a choice of one of three very special grand prizes: a ride-along with a New Bedford police officer, a training session at the police firing range with a trained firearms' instructor, or a police escort.

Eureka, they have found it!
Eureka, they have found it!

The third option is also available for younger winners of the challenge who may not be ready for a ride-along or firearms' training.

But they may be ready for a police escort to school or to a party or dance to impress their peers with a little star power.

"These prizes are tailored to get people to engage with the police department," said Lt. Scott Carola.

And have some fun, of course.

June 10 challenge

The Challenge kicked off on Memorial Day, and there have been three so far. A fourth is scheduled for Saturday, June 10.

The rules are simple, but the sleuthing is the challenge.

A clue is posted on the New Bedford Police Dept.'s Facebook page.

It may be directing the participant to the hidden location of the coin.

Or, it may direct the would-be detective to another clue on the way to the coin, said Carola.

"We started off kind of easy because I wanted to get people involved," he said.

"But I'm putting the warning out there. It's going to get very involved and it's going to get more difficult as we go along."

What does the Challenge do?

The Challenge will get people out and about to New Bedford locales, including its many monuments.

The coin is actually more of an ornamental medalion.
The coin is actually more of an ornamental medalion.

Other sites will involve local businesses.

One of the first challenges included Purchase Street Records, where the coin was hidden.

Are you up to the challenge?
Are you up to the challenge?

It was a double-clue, with the first clue leading to Purchase Street records, where the second was delivered by owner Roger Chouinard.

The coin was in the store's Led Zeppelin section, by the way.

Carola said the Challenge will continue throughout the summer.

Are you ready to face it?

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford Police's Coin Challenge will test your inner detective