Broken Arrow Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Hosts Annual Pancake Fundraiser

A Broken Arrow Group wants to make this holiday season brighter for local kids.

The Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association held its annual pancake fundraiser Saturday morning.

The event is raising money for Broken Arrow Police's 'Cops and Kids' event.

That program buys Christmas presents for kids in need.

Edward Duke, a retired Broken Arrow police officer, started the Cops and Kids event back in 1981.

"I never had any idea that it would get as big as it is now," Duke said.

City councilor Lisa Ford says the city has a special connection to first responders.

"In Broken Arrow, our citizens love the police department and love our officers," Ford said. "So, if there is anything that the officers are involved in, they usually do come out to support it, and so this is no different."

Duke and Ford say these events play a big part in keeping the relationship between citizens and the police department strong.

"That's the reason we started it," Duke said. "It was because we wanted to show them that we weren't just policemen, but we were people too."

"They're able to interact and it's not as stressful," Ford said. "They're not getting a ticket or having a stressful event with an officer."

The fundraiser raised more than $3000 for Christmas presents.

Organizers hope with that money, they can give just as much joy to kids, as they did to everyone on Saturday.