Ice cream social is lead-up to Youth Town Hall, mutual respect with police

Often police officers and teenagers don’t see eye-to-eye, but in Maricopa there’s a “Respect and the Benefit of the Doubt.”

That was the theme Saturday as Police Chief Steve Stahl’s Citizens Advisory Committee held an ice cream social where police officers and other city officials mingled with the community's youth in an effort to build mutual respect.

The event began with a prayer and opening remarks from Mayor Christian Price, who said the event was a great opportunity to bring everyone together at City Hall and have a chance to get to know each other.

Pastor Brian Ewing said he is a firm believer in showing children that police aren’t to be feared. He stressed the importance of building a two-way relationship of respect to increase understanding on both sides.

“We can build that bridge instead of maintaining the gap,” Ewing said.

Henry Wade, a representative the advisory committee, helped coordinate the event in hopes that youth and police would get “a chance to have a positive interaction with each other.” The ultimate goal is to have a youth town hall by August in which regular discussions between the community and law enforcement can take place.

Samantha Corrales, a youth representative on the advisory committee, said the ice cream social was a build-up to the youth town hall.

“This is going to be an icebreaker so we can continue to build on our youth improving in our own community,” she said.

Children and adults enjoyed ice cream and played games Saturday encouraging social interaction among the guests. Some police officers were in uniform throughout the event, while others talked with the children in civilian clothes and later switched into their uniforms to demonstrate they are just like everyone else.

Sgt. Leonard Perez, wearing his uniform, stressed that interacting with youth builds trust and a mutual respect.

“It’s the community that has to know one another,” Perez said.

Stahl explained that Saturday’s event was just the first step in the process. He said he wants the community’s youth to understand the police are here to help, not be feared.

“We want children to run to us when they need assistance, not run away,” Stahl said. “We want you to know we are here to help you all the time.”