PITTSFIELD, Mass. — PETA has put forth an offer to the Police Department: we'll buy the ice cream truck if you serve only vegan ice cream.

 

The Police Department, under the efforts of Officer Darren Derby, is raising money to purchase an ice cream truck. The concept is centered on the ideals of community policing. The truck will make regular appearances in neighborhoods and events allowing the officers to build a relationship with the youth. The project is dubbed "Operation Copsicle."

 

The city established an account at MyCom Credit Union on Fenn Street to accept donations for the purchase. 

 

On Friday, the national People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent Police Chief Michael Wynn an email offering to purchase the truck, under some conditions. 

 

"We'd like to donate the remaining balance needed to purchase the truck if you'd agree to serve only vegan ice cream and put our "Not Your Mom? Not Your Milk! Choose Vegan" ad on the side. To sweeten the deal, we'll also send a starter shipment of So Delicious nondairy ice cream bars," reads a letter from People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsPresident Ingrid E. Newkirk.

 

"They're just the ticket to help all residents- including anyone who steers clear of dairy products for health, ethical, or religious reasons -- beat the heat."

 

Newkirk wrote that some children are lactose intolerant and there "there is growing concern over the separation of mother cows from their calves and other cruel practices in the dairy industry, as well as worries over the environmental impact of factory farming."

 

The ad on the truck PETA is asking for is aimed to "protect resident's health by encouraging them to dump dairy products which are loaded with cholesterol and linked to an increased risk of developing a host of health concerns, including acne, food allergies, bloating, constipation, and ear infections."

 

"Like all mammals, cows produce milk only to feed their babies. To take their milk in order to produce ice cream, dairy farms forcibly impregnate mother cows- like the one pictured in our ad - over and over and then take their deeply beloved babies away from them within hours of birth. Tasty nondairy options, such as soy and coconut bars, are widely available and don't contribute to cruelty," Newkirk's letter reads.

 

"Considering that 6 percent of Americans now identify as full-on vegans, 75 percent of the world's population experiences symptoms of lactose intolerance, and 36 percent of U.S. consumers prefer nondairy foods to dairy-based ones, it makes sense to cool the demand for cow's milk ice cream this summer and serve rich and creamy vegan varieties instead."

 

Wynn did not respond Friday to a question on whether the department would consider the take the offer.