The Columbia Police Department is planning to host meet-and-greets in every neighborhood in the next six months.
“We want to be in every major community in our city between now and Christmas,” Chief Michael Kelly said. “We want to reach out and let people know that we are here to serve them.”
Friday, officers visited the Hendricks Street apartments and served up hot dogs, cold drinks and fun.
The CPD’s next event takes place Thursday night on Keys Hill as officers will greet residents on Keys Avenue beginning at 5:30 p.m.
“In every event that we do, we want the public to have an opportunity to build a relationship with the police department before they meet us on duty,” Kelly said Friday. “It really paid off here today because we saw people’s faces and their uncertainty about ‘What are the police in our neighborhood?’
“They are very apprehensive from the youngest children,” he said. “That offends me. We have to fix that. We’re working to do that.”
Metro Crime Stoppers also helped the police department at the apartment complex.
“Diane James has been a wonderful partner,” Kelly said. “She and I have been friends throughout my entire law enforcement career.
“She’s doing fingerprinting and DNA kits for the kids and she’s going to be with us at each outreach. Wise Buys donated our food today and our very own chef, (officer) Kirby Simmons, was our cook.”
Pictured Above: Columbia Police Chief Michael Kelly serves cold drinks to children and their parents at the Hendricks Street Apartments Friday. The police department is making an effort to get out into the neighborhoods and meet residents under a program initiated by Kelly and his command staff. | Photo by Mark Rogers
