DPD South Central Patrol holding community appreciation event

Dallas police are taking the next step in building a stronger relationship with the community.

South Central Patrol will host a community celebration on Saturday. It's an idea that came from DPD’s most tragic loss.

The party is sponsored by the police community. The South Central Division celebration will be a first of its kind after an idea from Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall.

Dallas police and the nation were rocked by what happened on July 7, 2016, when five officers were gunned down. Various communities across Dallas comforted officers.

“They kind of created a utopia when Dallas police and all law enforcement needed a utopian-like safe house,” said Dallas Police Major Danny Williams.

“We furnished them breakfast. We had fruit. We had food and water that we gave because of the business of it,” recalled Phil Foster with the Adelaide Neighborhood Association. “So we wanted to give them relief and give them food.”

So officers at the South Central substation are giving back. The cops holding a community appreciation day for the community in South Central Dallas on Saturday.

Because of the oppressive heat, the event will be held in the Highland Hills Branch Library.

“I think it'll be a great event because now the community is more working with the police,” said Dallas City Council Member Tennell Atkins. “And that’s one thing we're trying to do. Police getting to know the neighbors and the neighbors getting to know the police.”

Saturday's event will be a lot like what the department’s community relations office put on in the Joppa neighborhood a couple of weeks back.

“We want you guys to come out and enjoy the appreciation community event with us,” Williams said.

The event will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Highland Hills Branch Library at 3624 Simpson Stuart Road.

The other six patrol divisions plan to hold similar events to tell their community supporters thank you.