Sgt. Christian Behr was on duty in the Glenridge Drive neighborhood in Augusta when he got the idea for a Halloween-themed event, Operation Pumpkin-Augusta Police.

Behr of the Augusta Police Department was inspired to create the event after he spent some time chatting with several school-age children as they got off a school bus that afternoon. The children were excited to see the officers and asked a lot of questions.

Behr and other department representatives returned a week or so later to hand out pumpkin coloring contest flyers and explained the guidelines of the contest. Each child who completed the drawing would receive a pumpkin. Then, the children could carve or paint their pumpkins. And, today, when the department returns to the Glenridge Drive neighborhood, the participants can have their picture taken with a police officer and their decorated pumpkin.

The photos will be posted on APD social media with the permission of a parent/guardian. The two who receive the most likes will win one of two prizes: a choice between picking out a costume of their choice or Trick or Treating with a Cop.

When Behr, along with Sgt. Lauren Drouin and Sgt. Scott Taylor, among others from the department, returned on Thursday, Oct. 13, they passed out approximately 30 pumpkins to those children who finished their drawings.

The costume will be presented before Halloween, and Trick or Treating with a Cop will be at a time on Halloween decided by the winner’s parents/guardian.

For more information, email Behr at cbehr@augustamaine.gov.


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