Community policing is often talked about in abstract terms, but on a recent evening in the City of Fall River, it looked like a parking lot full of candy, creative costumes, and smiling faces.
Members of Team FRPD—including Sergeant Chris Rocha, Officer Joe Bailey, and Chief J.T. Hoar—traded their daily routines for a night of community fun, participating in the city’s annual Trunk or Treat event.
Sporting a sense of humor about their choice of attire, the officers decided to dress up as police officers for the evening. While they joked that it wasn’t the most original costume idea, they certainly pulled it off, delighting local children and families who stopped by their cruiser to collect treats.
More Than Just Responding to Calls
Events like the Trunk or Treat highlight a vital aspect of modern law enforcement: building genuine relationships outside of crisis situations. For the Fall River Police Department, spending positive, relaxed time with the city’s youngest residents helps foster trust, openness, and a true sense of partnership between local law enforcement and the neighborhoods they serve.
As officers connected with families and admired the community’s creative costumes, the evening served as a heartwarming reminder that the most impactful police work often happens one positive conversation at a time.
