Police holding Trunk or Treat Halloween event

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on October 26, 2024.

Herald photo by Al Beeber Constable Christian Olsen meets with reporters to talk about the Lethbridge Police Service Trunk or Treat Event.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Members of the Lethbridge Police Service on Halloween will be busy handing treats at their second annual Trunk or Treat Event.

Constable Christian Olsen, a K-9 handler with LPS, said Friday morning that the inaugural event last year attracted between 800-900 youngsters.

Police, with decorated vehicles, will be at the Nicholas Sheran boat launch just off McMaster Boulevard and at Logan Boulet Arena on the 1300 block of 8 Avenue North handing out treats on Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m.

Olson said because of the strong turnout during the initial event, police are expecting between 1,500 to 1,700 kids this year.

“Trunk or Treat really gives us an opportunity, as members of Lethbridge police, to collaborate and network with the youth in our community. This idea is pretty common throughout the U.S. mostly. It’s an opportunity for police and kids to get together and meet. Police officers hand out candy, kids get to get pictures of police vehicles,” said Olsen, noting building relationships with the community is the most important of the event.

“We saw huge success,” he said of the inaugural event. And police expect numbers to increase.

Police ran out of candy in about an hour and a half even though they were stocked up but this year they expect to have enough for two or three hours.

“Last year was pretty inspiring” with lineups of 50 to 75 people waiting for Trunk or Treat to start, the constable said.

For police, the event “any time we have a community related event, we notice an impact pretty quickly. I think building that relationship, especially with youth, is extremely important as police officers,” added Olsen.

“I know for me it’s fulfilling and I know for members here it’s really fulfilling too to have that opportunity to come out.”