Meeting and getting to know the residents of the St. Charles Hills neighborhood – and having a little fun – was on the agenda for the St. Charles County Police Department’s first Walk and Talk in September. The new program connects the department with residents and their neighborhoods to encourage open and honest dialogue.
Chief Kurt Frisz, who joined the department in March this year, implemented Walk and Talks when he served as Chief of Police in Wentzville. “We saw significant success in building relationships through the program,” Chief Frisz explains. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet residents in a relaxed, informal way and hear directly from them about concerns and what’s happening in their neighborhoods.”
At the Walk and Talk, Chief Frisz and 12 officers walked the St. Charles Hills neighborhood and met with residents and motorists along the way—as well as a small but mighty puppy named Jersey (pictured with Chief Frisz). They also handed out face masks and distributed 100 safety packs to residents, which included public safety phone numbers and information on home and driving safety, human trafficking, and text-to-911.
Sergeant Brian Clay was one of the officers who participated in the Walk and Talk, but he didn’t do just that—he and a group of children in the neighborhood, AKA Junior Officers, participated in the 22 Pushup Challenge in honor of military service members and to raise awareness for veteran suicide prevention.
“This type of opportunity to meet residents and engage in ways we don’t normally do on a day-to-day basis is so important,” Sgt. Clay says. “Public safety is a cooperative effort and we’re here to help and support the communities we serve.”
Stay tuned for information about future Walk and Talk events on the department’s Facebook and Twitter pages.