Maricopa police turned to a simple draw Wednesday in hopes of strengthening ties with the community: free ice cream. Families gathered for the annual Cops and Cones event, where children could meet officers, receive badges and talk with police in a relaxed setting.
According to InMaricopa, Tortosa resident Dillon Flohr brought his children after they heard about the event at school. His son Elijah, a fifth grader, said the officers’ gear made them look cool, while sixth grader Cadence said she was looking forward to meeting an officer even though she has relatives in law enforcement.
Police Chief Mark Goodman said that kind of interaction is the point of the event. He said Cops and Cones gives residents a chance to meet officers outside of a call for service and helps build relationships between the department and the people it serves.
Goodman said some people may be hesitant to approach police because of their uniforms or the situations in which they usually see officers. Events like this, he said, are meant to make officers more approachable and help break down those barriers.
The department also brought several cadets who are preparing to enter the police academy. Goodman said they are learning an early lesson about public service, adding that before someone can lead, they first have to learn how to serve.
