The Seattle Police Department (SPD) Relational Policing Unit kicked off a series of youth-oriented engagement events at the end of May at the Rainier Community Center, partnering with the Seattle Parks & Recreation Late Night program and Target for a free community barbecue and basketball event. The Target team brought its A-game to this free basketball event, joining youth and Seattle police officers on the court for some friendly competition, and hosting a Target recruiting table. 

SPD’s Quartermaster Unit set up outside the community club and served up freshly grilled hotdogs and hamburgers to participants, along with chips, drinks, and ice cream cones for dessert. In addition to the food, players each received a branded athletic t-shirt commemorating the event. 

Next on the agenda was a Backpacks for Kids Summer Bash, hosted by 1World1Sky in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, Target, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) via Operation Engage, Seattle Neighborhood Group, and the Seattle Police Department. This event took place 3 to 6 p.m., Friday, August 16, at the Southwest Teen Life Center, located in West Seattle.

The Summer Bash included free backpacks and school supplies for our young neighbors in need, a tasty barbecue (again cooked and served by SPD’s Quartermaster Unit), ice cream, fun inflatables, a live DJ, free SPD Mounted Patrol Unit calendars, SPD K9 trading cards and other SPD-themed swag, and more.

It is estimated that in between 500 and 600 Seattle community members were served.

Finally, the series closes out with the 2024 Heroes and Helpers event, which pairs Seattle police officers with kids and teens whose families need a little extra help during the holiday season. Held every December at different Target stores, Heroes and Helpers is a phenomenal community-builder and a rewarding experience for both the police officers and the families involved.

We are so grateful to our friends at Target for helping us support SPD’s vital relational policing programs, activities, and efforts. With the Department facing ongoing budget shortfalls, funding to accomplish the relationship-building work necessary to help foster a safe and connected community is limited. To ensure its relational policing goals are met, SPD has leaned heavily into grants from the Seattle Police Foundation and has continued to cultivate other partnerships to leverage resources. This collaboration with Target is one of those partnerships.

SPF is devoted to this important work and is grateful for generous partners like Target, who are willing to help shoulder the load. Thank you, Target, for your enthusiasm, your devotion to the Seattle community, and especially your support of the men and women of SPD.

SOURCE: Seattle Police Foundation