OPD Fun Day a Chance for Cops, Community to Come Together

By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

What started out five years ago as a way for the Oxford Police Department to show to the public renovations and upgrades made to the OPD building has turned into an annual event to give back to the community.

The OPD Fun Day, slated for Saturday, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the police department on Molly Barr Road.
“When Chief Joey East was appointed five years ago, there was an immediate push to reach out to the community,” said Capt. Alan Ivy. “Since we couldn’t call it an open house every year, we just went with name OPD Fun Day after the first year.”
Since Fun Day is centered around children, events will include face painting, hay rides, a dunking booth, K9 demonstrations, a blow-up obstacle course and bounce houses.
And the best part? Everything is free—even the food.
Event organizer and Communications Supervisor Bridgette Barnett Frierson said the event is aimed at allowing children and their parents to meet local police officers in a friendly atmosphere.
“We enjoy giving back to the community and spending some one-on-one time and getting to know our community,” she said.
The Oxford Fire Department will be at the event doing an obstacle game for kids. The Wings hospital transport helicopter will fly in and land at OPD during the event and people will be allowed to look inside the medical helicopter. Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi will have an ambulance there as well that people can “tour.”
While Frierson organizes the event, she said many officers volunteer their time to help make sure the day is truly a “fun day.”
“It takes anywhere from 20 to 30 officers to make sure that everything is up and running for the day to be successful,” she said. “We would love to have as many Oxford citizens to come out and enjoy the free community day and get to know your local police department.”