NEWS RELEASE: August 25, 2009
FROM: The Kansas Highway Patrol
CONTACT: Technical Trooper Tim McCool (785) 296-3102
Lieutenant Harold Tillman (785) 296-3102
Law Enforcement Joins El Shaddai Ministries to Host Youth Night
The Kansas Highway Patrol is co-hosting a Youth Night this evening, August 25, at El Shaddai Ministries church from 6-9 p.m. The church is located at 920 SE Sherman in Topeka. Youth Night will include a barbecue, educational and safety presentations, displays from local law enforcement, and a dispersal of school supplies to community youth. The Patrol is expecting approximately 125-150 youth and their parents to attend the event, with hopes it will help foster positive relations between law enforcement and community members and offer a chance to engage in conversations and address questions the youth in the community have. There will be 15-20 Kansas Highway Patrol personnel gathering with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Topeka Police Department to carry out the event.
Who: Event is for El Shaddai Ministries youth of all ages and their parents
What: Youth Night barbecue, safety and educational presentations, law enforcement displays, and distribution of school supplies
Where: El Shaddai Ministries church
920 SE Sherman
Topeka, KS 66607
***Located at SE Sherman and Ninth Street, in Topeka***
When: 6:00-7:30 p.m. Presentations
7:30 p.m. Dinner served
8:30 p.m. Handouts from agencies and dispersal of school supplies
Funding for the Youth Night was coordinated through the Governor's Task Force on Racial Profiling and underwritten by a federal grant that allows law enforcement to perform community outreach and help prevent racial profiling. Similar events have been held throughout other regions of the state this summer. Presentations during the event include K-9 drug detection, motorcycles, Road Dog roaming, KHP branches and careers (including presentations from Capitol Police and Motor Carrier Inspectors), Dangers of Teen Drinking and Driving, Topeka PD, Shawnee County Sheriff's Office, Seatbelt Convincer, and Rollover presentations.