New Facility at SUNSET PARK A Grand...
Read More
Florissant, NCCU Hosted 5th Annual Summons of Joy Program
For the fifth consecutive year, North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice, and the Florissant Police Department worked together to have a very successful Summons of Joy Program in the City of Florissant during the Christmas season. North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice organized a “Discussion and Solution Committee” following the shooting of Michael Brown and the riots in the City of Ferguson five years ago, to explore ways to improve the relations between the police and the community in North County.
This Committee consists of five police departments, three ministers, the superintendent of the Hazelwood School District, a representative of the Ferguson-Florissant School District, an assistant County prosecutor, and several other leaders. The police departments include Florissant, Hazelwood, St. Louis County, Clayton, and Alton, Il. The Summons of Joy Program was organized after much discussion among participants and consists of Florissant Police officers (while stopping individuals for minor violations during the Christmas season) giving warnings and $100 gift cards instead of tickets.
This has been a highly successful program. Some gift card recipients have even broke down crying and others have hugged every officer in sight. NCCU President Rance Thomas rode along with an officer to witness the response first hand. “One woman the officer stopped appeared to have a need and was driving an older car with her young daughter who had cancer. The officer allowed me to give her the gift card and when I did she hugged me very tightly and then did the same to the officers present. Her daughter could not get out of the car on her own and asked us to hug her also. This was a very emotional moment,” said Thomas.
Through the generosity of some Florissant churches, forty $100 gift cards were given away this season. “Without their support this would not have been possible. We are very grateful for them helping us improve the relations between the police and the community,” said Thomas.
