Tulsa County Sheriff's Office Gives Away Toys, Build Relationships With Community Members

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office hung out with members of the community to build better relationships, and also pass out a few gifts before the holidays.

Community members said many of them didn't know how to get help from law enforcement, but they now know the faces behind the badge.

Christmas came early for people gathered at Our Lady of Guadalupe Activities Center. Each winning number meant an early Christmas gift to take home, but organizers of the event hope families took home more than just toys.

"There's nothing better than to make things fun to build a good relationship," said event organizer Vicente Ruiz.

The goal of the event was to help create a stronger bond between law enforcement and the community because for people like Natalie Quijada, that good relationship hasn't always been there.

"Many of us, especially [the] Hispanic community, they don't know anything about how they can get help, or how law enforcement can help them if they have a problem in the community or anything that they want to report," Quijada said.

After the event, people on both sides of the badge hope that's changed.

"We just want to show them that we're not all bad. We want to be out here to protect them first and foremost, and we want to let them know that we're trustworthy," said Sergeant Brandon Hendrix with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office.

Event organizers said they want to continue to help build relationships while also creating memories that can last a lifetime.

"Maybe five or ten years from now they will remember, 'Well I remember when the officers were passing toys at the church'," said Ruiz.

The Tulsa County Sheriff's office said it would love to send more deputies to events throughout the county.

The number to get on their schedule is (918)-595-5601.