Local first responders and agencies host community outreach trunk-or-treat

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph Police Department hosted a community Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, welcoming kids and families for candy, bounce houses, and a chance to meet officers face to face.

The St. Joseph Police Department says their community outreach goals remain the same, to show residents what the city has to offer and remind them that officers are there to help, not just enforce.

The department used crime data to choose the location, Patee Park, targeting an area with recent hotspots, and paired the event with code enforcement outreach, offering dumpsters and resources to property owners.

Joining the police department were departments like EMS and Fire, who say they attend events like this because they let the community see the people behind the badge.

"If you could put a name to the badge or a face to the badge, I guess, if you want to call it that," said Chase Cotter, a captain with the St. Joseph Police Department. "I enjoy coming to these things. I like talking to people. I like interacting with the community, kind of letting them know we're not just here to enforce things. We're also here if you need anything from us."

If you missed this one, be sure to keep a lookout for more community outreach programs like this from local first responders.