HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — HPD is holding its Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 18, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the South Precinct, located at 7900 Bailey Cove Road.
Officers with the department are usually busy protecting and serving the community but this weekend, the department is making it a priority to become a part of the community.
"Well that's a huge part of obviously what we do is protect and serve but a lot of people are able to see us in a different light when it's not out there and an official call for service," said South Precinct Commander Captain Jerry King. "They can come in here back and let the guard down a little bit and relax but it helps normalize us as police officers and gives people that one on one opportunity to spend with us and maybe see something or know something or learn something they didn't know before when it comes to police work and comes to our job."
Not only does this event help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the people of Huntsville, but it also allows for the department to give back to the people of Huntsville.
Police officers are oftentimes viewed as hometown heroes and getting a gift from a hero is enough to bring the holiday spirit out of anyone.
"It seems like a small thing to some people but for us, it's a huge thing because it gives us that opportunity to impact a child of that young age and then and then those transitional years sometimes that are so important for us to for them to know that we're there to help them," said Captain King.
For more information, check out HPD's official Facebook page.