Mayor Derek Slaughter is interviewed in his offices recently in Williamsport.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
This summer, the Williamsport police did some grilling.
But not the kind of questioning they do in certain criminal investigations.
This was far more light-hearted, the kind on the cooking grill, and it quickly became a hot topic of conversation this summer.
What was billed as “Cookin’ Up: Conversation with Williamsport Police” proved to be so successful that Mayor Derek Slaughter and the police administration are preparing another round of grilled doggies and burgers for next year.
Along with UPMC, Lycoming County United Way and the YMCA, the event was a way to not only feed some hungry neighbors with freshly grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, but a means of keeping the lines of communication open.
“We had the cops out there building community fellowship interacting, answering questions, and it went well,” Mayor Derek Slaughter said.
Each one had different folks in various neighborhoods across the city landscape.
Bicycle giveaways were a big hit with the kids.
Some administration and patrol officers were cooking up the food and handing out the drinks. The officers built those bridges, opening the lines of communications.
“You can’t do too much of that,” Slaughter said.
The YMCA, United Way and UPMC were all instrumental in opening up space allowing the city officers and mayor to get a few hours in and get to make those connections.
“We are going to continue to do that,” Slaughter said, hoping for a warm autumn.
“That is if the weather permits, if we can get one more in before winter and start back up in the spring and summer,” he said.
Another community-oriented program between police, fire and codes is to start what is being called “Pride in the Port.”
This will consist of community walks, where the mayor, police, firefighters and codes employees, pop up in various neighborhoods to award those who take pride in their property.
“We are going to recognize them with Wegmans and Giant gift cards as a thank you,” Slaughter said.
The walks will also serve a dual purpose, such as making sure that properties that need more tender loving care will have a door hanger notice put on the front door with a QR code for connecting to the city home rehabilitation experts at the city Department of Community and Economic Development, or tell them about the possibility of rehabilitation funds through the state government.
The officials will see in their walks whether a property may need window replacements or a roof and the door hanger will provide people with information to reach individuals who may be able to see if they qualify for any of several programs.
“We’re going to try and start that this fall before the weather gets too much colder, but if we don’t have it, we’ll get it in the spring and summer,” Slaughter said.
“You can never interact too much and never be too transparent,” he said.
For the police officers in the field, a chaplain program is in place to meet their spiritual needs or as someone who they can approach for guidance during their daily and nightly shifts protecting and serving the community.
