Ashley Hunter: Greene Publishing, Inc.
With the frequently reported hostility between civilians and law enforcement officers around the nation, the City of Madison is putting together a public-invited Community Policing forum that will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 23.
The event will be attended by officers from the Madison Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Madison County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol. During the event, citizens are invited to come out and familiarize themselves with their local law enforcement personnel, as well as to receive important information on how to interact with officers.
At the event, a Shoot-Don't-Shoot simulator will be set up for participants to experience the high-risk decisions that law enforcement officers are sometimes required to make in a split second.
A drawing for door prizes will be held at the end of the forum. This event will be family-friendly, and parents are encouraged to bring their children.
The forum will be held from 6 p.m. through 7:30 p.m. at the Madison Senior Citizens Center, located at 1161 SW Harvey Greene Dr.
“This is our effort to be proactive in police/civilian relationships,” said City Commissioner Marcus Hawkins.
Through this event, it is hoped that local law enforcement can become more in-tune with the community, and the public understands that law enforcement is here to protect and serve them.