The South Salt Lake Police Department held its first ever “Badges & Brats!” community event at its headquarters at 2835 S. Main St on Aug. 7. The well-attended event was a success, Police Chief Danielle Croyle said.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase all the great work that our officers do but also makes it more personable where we can interact with the community and get to know them and they get to know us,” she said. 

In the department’s training room, community members could find out about the department’s various divisions including the civilian review board, school resource unit, SWAT team, public order unit, K-9, bike patrol and motors.

“We just have so many great officers here along with our support staff,” Croyle said. “We wanted to show the community what we could do for them and how we can engage them.”

Local residents got their faces painted at the “Badges & Brats!” event. (Linda Petersen/City Journals)

 Along with getting to know department members and the services they provide, local residents were also able to have their faces painted and pick up some SSLPD swag. 

Outside, members of the Honorary Colonels barbecued bratwurst and hot dogs for hungry attendees, who could also pick up chips, drinks, cookies and cupcakes provided by the department. There were also corn hole games.

This event was much more successful than previous similar events which have been held at Community Park, Community Outreach Coordinator Shuan Ward said. The event was South Salt Lake’s effort to provide an experience for residents similar to the national Night Out Against Crime, he said.

For Levi Greenwood who recently moved back to the area, “Badges & Brats!” was a chance for him and his 12-year-old daughter Elizabeth to participate with the community, he said.

“I wanted to get out and do some community events and figured this would be a great place to stop by,” he said. “I love it; you can never beat free food. Everybody’s smiling and it seems great.” 

Elizabeth hoped to be able to meet some of the police dogs that evening. 

Martha Trujillo brought her four children, ages 18 to 6 to “Badges & Brats!”

“We thought it was a great opportunity for us to come and support our local community and police officers,” she said. 

The Honorary Colonels fed a large crowd at the South Salt Lake Police Department “Badges & Brats!” event on Aug. 7. (Linda Petersen/City Journals)

Events like “Badges & Brats!”  help build a rapport with the community, said Melody Campos whose husband Conrad is a member of the department’s civilian review board. 

“Where we know them and they know us, the better we can work together,” she said.

Mayor Cherie Wood appreciated the turnout.

“We love inviting our residents into our spaces, she said. “This is not always open to the public, all parts of it. We just think it’s important for everybody to see the different specialties we have in our police department and all of the organizations that support the department.”