In an effort to foster better community and race relations, Dover police are partnering with the NAACP to hold a series of community events – the first of which is this Thursday.
Weather permitting, Dover police officers will be playing basketball with kids from some of the city’s high-crime and high-poverty areas, as well as handing out coloring books, 7-11 coupons among other items.
Cops and Central Delaware branch of the NAACP officials say it’ll be the first of many events to build “both trust and a strong relationship” with the African American community.
It’s a relationship has been tenuous. Most recently, a white officer shot 21-year-old Terrance Fletcher during a downtown foot chase in August after receiving a tip that Fletcher had a gun.
He was later charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon.
And Cpl. Thomas Webster is going to trial over kicking Lateef Dickerson in the head in 2013 as he and his partner had the black man at gunpoint. The blow left Dickerson unconscious and with a broken jaw.
Police officials say they’ll close down South New Street between Loockerman and Reed Streets beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday for the event.