Donuts with the Chief draws families to Mission Police Department

Donuts with the Chief at the Mission Police Department drew more than 300 people for tours, crafts and family activities, organizers said.

Organizers described the event as a community-outreach effort intended to strengthen trust between residents and officers. A staff member said the event gives children an opportunity to meet officers, see department operations and participate in activities such as fingerprinting and photographs.

"The event is called 'Donuts with the Chief,' and it's not about the chief, but it's about the citizens," a staff member said. "It's about the children that come out here, and they get to meet our officers. They get to see our department, they get to see our operations, and more importantly, so we can build a bond with the community."

An event speaker described the turnout as strong. "It's a success. We usually have between 300 and 400 people that come here," the speaker said, adding that attendees could color, eat and join crafts. The staff member also noted that the event includes fingerprinting and photographs to give children a sense of police operations.

The event description distributed during the program said the entire community was invited for a "sweet treat" with Mission Police Chief Cesar Torres and a tour of the department. Organizers said the goal is to make residents, especially children, more comfortable calling the department when they need help.

Organizers and speakers framed the program as part of ongoing community engagement rather than a response to a specific incident. No policy changes, motions or formal directions were discussed during the portions of the meeting that covered the event.