Introducing, Deputy Sheriff Justice! Philly Sheriff Announces New Mascot During Thanksgiving Parade

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On November 23, 2023, at the ABC Thanksgiving Day Parade, Sheriff Rochelle Bilal debuted as Deputy Sheriff Justice, the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office’s mascot. While visiting children at various schools in the Philadelphia area, Sheriff Bilal and her team saw a need. A need to reach school age children in a more comprehensive and engaging way and encourage them to love themselves, each other, and build positive relationships with law enforcement. In light of the violence plaguing Philadelphia amongst our young people, Sheriff Bilal and her team wanted a better way to connect, relate to, and impact the children they serve. Thus, Deputy Sheriff Justice was born.

Her Story: Justice is a newly recruited deputy sheriff who values safety and justice. She loves children and shares an enthusiasm for reading and learning. She dislikes bullying and always engages children to respect one another, resolve their issues peacefully, and always be courteous. She fights to break down barriers of prejudice and encourages positive interactions amongst children and law enforcement. Her hope is to reach as many children as she can and help build a better, safer Philadelphia.Though Deputy Sheriff Justice was unveiled at the parade, she is not new to the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office.

The idea of a mascot was formed back in 2021, through the Office’s community outreach team and employees. Over the last four years, Sheriff Bilal and her team have visited over 100 schools in the Philadelphia area, aiming to: (1) build self-esteem, (2) prevent bullying, (3) build respect for law enforcement, (4) address the dangers of guns and (5) encourage children to resolve their disputes nonviolently. The Sheriff’s Office began the process of creating a mascot where the employees voted on what the mascot should be and its name. But, the lasting effects of COVID-19 delayed the design process, and therefore extended Justice’s launch date.

Ultimately, Sheriff Rochelle Bilal saw it fit to introduce Deputy Sheriff Justice at the ABC Thanksgiving Day Parade because it was a familial event where Justice could interact and take pictures with children, along the parade route, in a fun, cheerful, and loving environment.In the future, Deputy Sheriff Justice can be found at all Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office community outreach events dedicated to children. For a calendar of our upcoming events, please visit our website at phillysheriff.com.