The City of Oak Park will unveil the newest member of the public safety patrol team today.
The big reveal of "Operation: Ice Cream Truck" will get underway at 2 p.m. in front of the Oak Park Department of Public Safety Building. Safety officers will deliver 300 ice cream sandwiches per week in the neighborhoods - and at city events during the coming months.
City leaders say this is a fun way for officers to connect and engage with the community.
"To truly develop a supportive relationship with the community, it begins with communication," said Oak Park Public Safety Director Steve Cooper in a statement. "For many, a person's first experience with law enforcement is the result of an emergency, a traffic stop, or a crime. In Oak Park, we seize opportunities to build our relationship with community members so when, and if, they feel the need to turn to us for assistance, they have an established comfort level built from trust and mutual support."
