Colorado Springs Police Department wins community policing award for Play COS programs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Last week, Colorado Springs Police Department won the Walmart Leadership in Community Policing Award for their Play COS programs.
The announcement was made during an awards ceremony at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference.
The police department is being recognized for its promising practices, applying effective and long-lasting partnerships in Colorado Springs safer.
The idea of Play COS programs:
“Improve police-community relations. Play COS does just that as it allows our community to interact with officers in an organic, simple, and fun way. Nothing too serious, just officers and community members having a positive interaction. We are most proud of the fact that Play COS crosses social, economic, racial, and ethnic boundaries. We do not have to speak the same language, or come from the same background, to find connections through sports. The barriers we have seen broken down within our community are inspiring,” the police department stated.
Since January 2021, more than 3,100 balls were given away to kids and teens, all thanks to the Colorado Springs Police Department’s officers. Play COS programs have created more than 14,000 positive police and community interactions since they started. The police department has helped set the groundwork for programs alike with local and military departments and close to two dozen departments worldwide.
“Everyone at the CSPD is proud to be honored with this award. With that said, Play COS is not just a CSPD program. This is a community program that we have the privilege of running. Play COS would not have been possible without generous donations from large corporations, small local businesses, and individual community members who all want to make our community a better place. We are all incredibly thankful and humbled to bring this community program to life,” said Chief Adrian Vasquez, Colorado Springs Police Department.
