CAMDEN — Police officers are notorious for razzing each other about anything and everything. Whether it's one officer's favorite food or another officer's mannerism, within the ranks, each eventually earns their own nickname. This winter, Camden Police officer Tim Davis has been dubbed "The Sandman." And he's darn proud of it.

Taking a cue from Bath Police Department, Davis said he thought it would be a good thing to bring a “Sand for Seniors” program to Camden.

It's a pretty simple concept, but serves two purposes.

"The town has the public sand shed, and anybody who lives in town can go up and get a bucket of sand," said Davis. "This is for people who can't go up and get a bucket, or who don't have a family member who can go up and get them a bucket."

While sand is a simple and important way to keep walkways from remaining iced over and unsafe, the new Sand for Seniors project joins the town’s “Good Morning” program, which both allow officers to keep in contact with elderly and disabled citizens who might otherwise not be inclined to call for help or reach out, or who become even more housebound during winter months.

"Additional contact is the bonus," said Davis. "We are going to go and see these people who don't normally call 911. It's another aspect, another way for us to go up and see them and check on them, have contact."

The Good Morning program currently has about six or seven residents participating. Each morning between 8 and 10 a.m., they get a call from someone from the Camden Police Department. If contact cannot be made by telephone, a police officer goes to the resident's home to check on their welfare.

The Sand for Seniors program has an inventory of a dozen medium-size buckets, which will be filled with sand and dropped off at the homes of participating seniors and others. Once a bucket has been used up, a call to the police department during business hours will get an officer out to switch out an empty bucket for a full one.

"Once the program gets going, we'll keep a spare bucket or two in the cruiser for calls for refills," said Davis.

With the first significant snow on the ground this past weekend and the Sand for Seniors program getting started, Davis said that he is keeping his eyes open for other programs to serve the community in different ways.

"My sergeant says, make your community want their police department. We aren't just here to pull cars over, write tickets and tend to accidents," said Davis. "We want them to feel safe in many ways."

Both programs are free, even for residents who already have Lifeline or other service that automatically triggers immediate assistance in an emergency.

Eligible persons are those 60 or older with no close friends or family able to help. They must live in Camden and be handicapped or disabled. Exceptions may be made for those identified as being handicapped or disabled who do not fit the "senior" definition, but are still in need of assistance.

An application is required for both programs, and it can be picked up at the police station, at 31 Washington St., or an application can be dropped off should the individual not be able to come to the station to pick one up. For more information or questions, or to donate buckets or to volunteer to make sand deliveries, call 236-7953.

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 706-6655.