COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
COFFEE WITH A COP
Coffee with a Cop provides individuals with an opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers serving their community in a relaxed environment. The national initiative, which aims to improve relationships between police officers and community members, was integrated into the Salina community by Police Chief Brad Nelson in 2014.
Coffee with a Cop is one of the most successful community oriented policing programs across the country, and is supported by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Coffee with a Cop events have been hosted in all 50 states.
CITIZENS' POLICE ACADEMY
The Citizens' Police Academy, a joint venture between the Salina Police Department and the Saline County Sheriff's Office, completed its twenty-second year in 2016.
The goal of the Citizens' Police Academy is to provide members of the community with an inside look at the various units of the Police Department and the Sheriff's office, to help create better understanding and communication between citizens and police through education. The Citizen's Police Academy offers an opportunity for individuals from all segments of the community to experience firsthand decisions and duties law enforcement officers face every day.
BIGS IN BLUE
Bigs in Blue is a one-to-one mentoring program that connects youth with police in communities throughout our nation; building strong, trusting, and lasting relationships. These relationships can help build stronger bonds between law enforcement and the families they serve.
Bigs in Blue kicked off in Salina on September 27, 2017 at the Salina Police Department. Participating children regularly meet with their police department mentors for homework help and fun activities.
FISHING WITH A COP
This annual event, which was attended by 150 children in 2016, is a joint effort between the Salina Police Department and Fishing’s Future (a national nonprofit organization).
This event provides children with the opportunity to be teamed up with police officers, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, and wildlife and parks officers.
There are prizes for participants, and everyone is invited to attend a barbecue following the event.
COPS N' COSTUMES
The City of Salina Police Department is invited community members to attend their first Halloween event, Cops and Costumes, in 2017.
The event included:
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Giveaways: candy, sticker badges, glow sticks,
crayons and coloring books -
Meet and greet with police officers
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Photo opportunities with police officers
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Police vehicles on display
POLAR PLUNGE
Annually, members of the Salina Police Department participate in the Kansas Polar Plunge.
In 2017, plunge participants across the state raised over $94,000 for Special Olympics of Kansas, which benefits Special Olympics athletes by providing opportunities to train, compete in sports, and receive basic health screenings.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS LAW
ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN
Annually, members of the Salina Police Department participate in the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Each year, nearly 1,000 officers in Kansas take part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. An international program which actually began in Kansas, this program is comprised of officers carrying an Olympic-type torch, relay-style, across the state to the Special Olympics Summer Games in Wichita each June. In addition to direct annual contributions by KACP, more than $250,000 is raised each year for Kansas Special Olympics by KACP members and their officers involved in the Torch Run.