The COPS Office is pleased to feature the Springfield (Illinois) Police Department as a 2024 winner of the Community Policing in Action Photo Contest.

It’s hard to say who was having the most fun at the COPS & Bobbers fishing event hosted by the Springfield Police Department (SPD) in October 2023. As can be seen in the winning photo, SPD Officer Lamar Moore, who grew up as a city kid in Chicago, was a little squeamish about unhooking his first catch. But to the delight of the kids and parents at the pond, he soon caught on to the excitement of reeling in even the tiniest of fish.

COPS & Bobbers is very popular with the more than 20 officers who usually participate in the event, as well as the approximately 75 children who come out for it with their families each year. But this annual event is just one of many community activities this central Illinois police department holds to bring its staff of 258 officers and 28 civilian personnel closer to the Springfield residents they serve.

The Neighborhood Policing Unit Builds Trust in the Community

The SPD’s most extensive outreach program is its Neighborhood Police Officer (NPO) Unit, which is part of the Field Operations Division. Started in in 2006, the unit was initially created to focus on problem-oriented policing, and the officers were assigned to cover all eight of SPD’s beats. But the program has evolved through the years, and NPO officers now focus on relationship building as well as problem solving.

One NPO is assigned to each of SPD’s beats, with an additional officer assigned to the downtown business district and one to the Springfield Lake area. In each neighborhood, the NPO actively works with residents to identify their concerns and develop solutions. Said Sgt. Don Rummans, NPO supervisor, “NPOs work with the patrol officers on their beats, serving as the liaison between the community and our department. Our NPOs follow up and deal with some chronic issues that the patrol officers don’t have time to handle. We also work with city departments such as the street department, water and electric companies, the housing authority and other municipal organizations on the residents’ behalf.

“Over time, we’ve become more directly involved in community events, too, attending block parties and neighborhood association meetings. We’re regularly invited to attend a variety of events, from touch-a-truck gatherings and local youth sports games to parades. These are opportunities to strengthen the trust between our department and the people of Springfield. Our command staff is also actively engaged in these events, reinforcing our commitment to being a part of the community we serve.

“People come to Coffee With a Cop, for instance, to meet officers and talk about what’s going on in the neighborhood. And a concern or problem that we can help solve usually comes up. Kids come to this, too. One little girl has been coming to Coffee With a Cop with her grandma for many years and is always is excited to see the SPD officers.”

Chief Ken Scarlette is very supportive of this unit, as he used to be an NPO himself. Through his prior experience and growing up in Springfield, he believes building these relationships is a goal for not only the NPO unit, but for the entire agency.

Making Friends Using Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, and Books

Among the most popular activities hosted by the NPO is Meat & Greet, which was started by an officer who was a butcher before joining the force. NPOs drive the Meat & Greet truck, which contains hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, and condiments as well as a grill, to local parks, neighborhood events and holiday celebrations. They build good will with the kids and their families while treating them to burgers and hot dogs.

Another outreach activity that children love is the SPD’s Polar Patrol. Officers give out popsicles at playgrounds and chat with the kids and their parents, who often ask the officers to pose for a few photos. In the winter months, the SPD shows up at a popular sledding spot with cocoa for all.

The youngest residents of Springfield are also the focus of Books & Badges. In this program sponsored by The Starfish Assignment, officers read a book to children in their elementary school classroom, then allow each of them to take a copy of the book home.

Said Nikki Monari, SPD Communications Liaison, “Last year was our first year doing Books & Badges. This year, The Starfish Assignment has generously doubled the number of books we have to give out, which will allow us to visit more classrooms.

“We do it in a couple of schools each month from the fall through April, in partnership with the local school district. While the program is facilitated by one officer, a variety of officers and the command staff too join in the fun throughout the school year.

“The officers love it, not only because they enjoy being around kids, but because it makes a difference in the way they are seen in the community. Later on, they might be on a call, and a child at the scene will say ‘You’re the officer who came to my school,’ and be happy to see you.”

Added Sgt. Rummans, “The purpose of all these activities is to build personal relationships, to show that we are present and part of the community. Usually, officers aren’t called to a home unless there’s a problem. These events are ways to get involved with the public in a more positive environment.”

Speaking about the SPD’s commitment to community outreach, Chief Scarlette said, “Nonenforcement interactions, like neighborhood events, Coffee with a COP, and similar programs, help strengthen our connection with the people of Springfield and build lasting trust among our [residents]. It's essential for us to humanize the badge and demonstrate that we are here not only to enforce the law but [also] to serve and support our community.”

Learn more about The Starfish Assignment.

Faye C. Elkins
Sr. Technical Writer
COPS Office

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