Bring Your Own Five (BYO5)

Bring Your Own Five was an idea brought to the Police Department by members Divine Temple Church in 2013 to encourage positive use of the basketball courts at Fisk Park. Every Saturday in summer, Spring Break, and Winter Break games are held. Players can bring a whole team, a few friends, or just themselves to play. Members of the Divine Temple Church volunteer to act as score keepers and referees, while the Police Department provides refreshments and food for the games. These games aren’t just about basketball, it provides the police department another opportunity to connect and learn from the community it serves. 

Badges for Baseball

Officers participate in the Badges for Baseball program, funded by the Cal Ripken Sr Foundation, at both Boys and Girls Clubs in Green Bay. Officers and staff discuss different topics from curriculum with the kids and then play games to put what they learned into action.

Cops & Bobbers

Cops & Bobbers is a program that teaches kids how to fish. Officers use fishing as a tool to connect with kids in the community. Officers work side by side with the kids, helping them bait, cast, hook and release. More importantly, they bond and learn that they are not so different from each other.  Kids get to interact with local cops one on one and form a positive and everlasting relationship. This program is designed to build and strengthen relationships between the children and law enforcement officers.

This event is a one day program that takes place in July or August depending on the weather. This event is free to the kids and lunch is provided. Participants are recommended through other community agencies such as the Boys and Girls Club and Casa Alba Melanie.

Shop With A Cop

Shop With A Cop is an annual event that involves elementary students and law enforcement agencies throughout Brown County.  Elementary students nominated by their school counselors and social workers are selected to join an officer or department employee for breakfast, shopping, and gift wrapping on a Saturday morning in December.  The focus is giving the kids the opportunity to shop for gifts for their families, something they might not otherwise be able to do while building a relationship with a police officer. Thanks to the generous support from McDonald’s, Lamers Bus Lines, and Wal-Mart, and several community supporters, this event is possible. 

Department’s Little Free Library

Kids are welcome to stop down and select a book from our Little Free Library! If children have to come into the Police Department, we want them to have a positive experience. Thank you to teachers from Ashwaubenon High School’s Technical Education Department for the time and materials to build the library and to the Green Bay Area School District for stocking the books. 

Bike Rodeos and Bike Lock Giveaways

GBPD participates in bike rodeo events to teach children about bike and road safety. Bike rodeos are often held in partnership with other community organizations including the Green Bay Bike Collective and Neighborhood Associations. Bike registration is also done at the bike rodeos. Residents can register for a bike license at the Green Bay Police Department lobby for free. Bike registration is important to help return lost and stolen bikes to their correct owners. 

Officers also give away bike locks to children. Bike theft is a crime of opportunity and through the use of bike locks, will decrease the potential for theft. 

Books and Badges

Officers go into area elementary schools and read books to the students with members of the Green Bay Packers Women’s Association. The officers also talk about age appropriate safety topics with the children. Each student is given a book to keep. This program is financially supported by the Green Bay Packers Women’s Association.

Reach-A-Child

GBPD received a large donation of books and bags from Reach-A-Child. These books are distributed to children on police calls to allow for a positive interaction between the children and police. For more information on Reach-A-Child, visit https://reachachild.org/.

Tank Elementary School Community Service Group

This program involves officers working with the Tank Elementary school social worker to identify 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students who would benefit from volunteering in community service opportunities. This group focuses on mentoring the students in social skills, character building, and leadership while serving others. Students participate in an event once a month to serve the community. 

Kid’s Day and Park Programs

Officers participate every year in Kid’s Day held on June 25th during the Mayor’s lunch at Leicht Park. GBPD has several specialty vehicles on display for children and their families. GBPD partners with the Green Bay Parks Department on many youth events in the parks.

Gifts for Teens

The Green Bay Metro Fire Department started the “Gifts for Teens” parades throughout the city to encourage donations for Salvation Army’s Gifts for Teens program. The Green Bay Police Department participates in the parades through different City neighborhoods and collects non-perishable food items.

Department Tours and Visits

Department tours and officer visits are available for the community, including Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups. Officers can also visit meetings to talk about different safety topics, talk about what police officers do and show a squad car. 

Safety Town

Officers are guest presenters for Safety Town covering police related safety skills for juveniles. Officers explain the tools that they carry and allow students to ask questions.  Safety Town is coordinated by the Center for Childhood Safety. For more information visit https://www.centerforchildhoodsafety.org/copy-of-safety-town.

Fingerprinting

Officers participate in different community events to fingerprint youth. Fingerprint cards are given to the parent/guardian to keep in case of an emergency involving the child. This also provides an opportunity for officers to talk to children about safety.