A BBQ held last month that included community activists and Wichita Police officers was promoted as an alternative to protests over police violence. Organizers called it a success, and now city officials are planning follow-up events.
Cell-phone video from the July 17 “First Step Cookout" event showed a police officer dancing with other attendees. The clip received national attention in the wake of officer-involved shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana, in which two black men were killed, as well as shootings in Dallas, where five police officers were gunned down following a Black Lives Matter protest.
The city of Wichita is now hosting additional events in order to reach out to children and families.
“This will be a great opportunity for the community to interact with their patrol officers and get to know them personally,” Wichita Police Sergeant Nikki Woodrow says.
There will be two events going on simultaneously at both O.J. Watson Park and Orchard Park on Aug. 13. The city is calling it "Kids, Cops and Cars,” and will include food and activities.
There will be additional cookouts later in August for other parts of Wichita.
The City of Wichita reports that up to 2,000 people attended the initial “First Step Cookout.”
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