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Detective Brown details Community Relations Bureau outreach and upcoming events
Summary
Detective Brown, representing the Community Relations Bureau, told the Human Relations Commission about scheduled community events including a fraud forum on the 29th, a DEA prescription drug takeback, food giveaways and year-round programs such as Franklin Fit and a July youth academy.
Detective Brown, a representative of the Community Relations Bureau, updated the Franklin Township Human Relations Commission on the bureau’s outreach schedule and youth programs.
“Our most popular is probably... Franklin Fit,” Detective Brown said, listing Franklin Fit as a year-round program the bureau runs since 2021. He described other regular offerings — basketball, a popular chess program and a youth academy planned for July — and said the academy typically enrolls about 25 to 30 young people.
Brown outlined a set of near-term community events and resources: a fraud forum on the 29th that will bring detectives and other agencies together to review scams affecting residents; the national DEA takeback for prescription drugs on Saturday; and a food giveaway, hosted by the Ultimate Charismatic Center, scheduled 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the community policing building at 935 Hamilton.
He also reminded the commission that police headquarters maintains a year-round secure prescription drop box that is retrieved twice monthly for incineration.
On youth engagement, Brown said the bureau seeks to channel children toward the youth center — which offers indoor programming and access to computers, homework help and food — rather than leave the park as an unscheduled play space. He told commissioners that the Recreation (Wreck) Department runs most park programming during the summer, and that CRB staff are coordinating to make the youth center a consistent “home base” for after-school and summer activities.
Brown acknowledged persistent transportation gaps to the youth center for residents living in the town’s south end and said work is underway to explore options. He added that construction of a new YMCA — mentioned as possibly starting in spring 2027 — may expand future programming and access.
The commission asked several logistical questions about park scheduling, transportation and program fees. On the subject of camp costs, a participant raised concern that some seniors had expressed about a reported $600 fee for camps; Brown clarified that police-run programs are free and that recreation-run camps carry separate fee structures.
The commission did not take formal action on these items during the meeting. The officer encouraged members to publicize upcoming events and to encourage youth and families to register for the July academy.
