Owensboro Police Department is bringing back some of its community connection programs — including Police in the Park, where team members invite families to hang out, play games, and learn more about the department’s officers.
Their kickoff for the summer at Moreland Park on Wednesday saw several families and organizations grab a hot dog, throw footballs, and get tours of some of the police vehicles. Members of the special response team and traffic units were on site, offering plenty of knowledge about OPD.
Public Information Officer Mark Hammonds said the officers are not required to attend but many opt to participate.
“They’re taking their lunch breaks to come down here to hang out with some of the kids and other community members. They come here on their own time just to spread the word of the police department and meet some people,” he said.
Hammonds said OPS aims to hold an event at all the City parks before the summer has concluded in hopes of connecting with the people who live in those neighborhoods. Hammonds said they plan to grill whenever possible and play a variety of yard games.
OPD also conducts other outreach programs such as Coffee with a Cop and their DARE program, but Police in the Park allows them to meet families that may not be able to attend those programs due to their schedules.
“We want this to be a positive experience for everybody, so there’s no special agenda. It’s just an open invitation for anybody and everybody, and we would love to see them come down here and talk to us and ask questions about the police department,” Hammonds said.
Future Police in the Park events will be publicized on the OPD and City Facebook Pages.
