Tuesday, September 17, 2024
By Gracelyn Giese
Contributing Writer
DE PERE – This summer, De Pere City Police Department officers have been taking time out of their schedules to spend quality time with the local children.
Through the Police and City Kids (PACK) Program officers and children have created a bond.
The PACK program began in summer of 2015 to “bring kids in the community closer to law enforcement and bridge the gap between us,” explained Officer Joe Johnson.
By giving local kids an opportunity to engage with police men and women, the officers hoped children would learn that “police are human beings” and that “it is okay to talk to us and not be scared.”
Kids throughout the City of De Pere quickly took to enjoying the PACK program and brought forward their interest to share with the officers.
With activities like kickball, basketball, football, bean bag toss and even library books and card games, Johnson noted that it helps provide some structure for children who may otherwise “sometimes might go out and get in trouble because they’re bored.”
The PACK program takes place once a week in a variety of parks around De Pere on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Police officers will be hosting the PACK program at Jim Martin Park on July 24, VFW Park on Aug. 3 and Optimist Park on Aug. 7.
For more information, visit the De Pere Police Department Facebook Page.
