LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lincoln Police Department and Malone Center teamed up for a basketball game Thursday night.
This was the second year of “Unity in the Community,” a showdown between police officers and children at Northeast High School.
The goal is to help build relationships between youth and law enforcement.
Standford Bradley Jr., assistant director of the Malone Center, said the center strives to use this event to educate children about the center and its programs.
“We were sitting around brainstorming what we could do to get more kids into the program,” Bradley said. “Track and field came to mind because basketball brings people together.”
He and LPD Lt. Tervis Banks said the highlight of the event was hearing the children share their excitement with officers.
The event will be memorable for both the children and the officers in the days that follow.
“After the game, I run into kids from the community and they say, 'We played against you guys in the game!'” Banks said. “So it’s fun to be able to talk to them about things.”
Malone Center and the Lincoln Police Department hope to host more events like this in the coming years.