Barnstable ‘Unity Day’ Held On Town Green

BPD Officer Brian Morrison [In Dunk Tank] During 2018 Unity Day on Village Green

HYANNIS- The Town of Barnstable, together with the Barnstable Police Department, and the “People of Action” community group came together yesterday afternoon for the town’s third annual Unity Day.

The event held at the Hyannis Village Green was designed to bring the community and police department together for a free day of food, music, raffles, and children’s activities.

Unity Day is the brain child of brothers Andre and Jesse Barboza, from Hyannis, who first reached out to former Police Chief Paul MacDonald last year seeking to engage officers with the community that they serve.

“The Barnstable Police right now is really committed to being involved with the community, so it makes it easy [to come together for an event like this],” says Barboza.

The brothers were inspired to create the event after a number of conflicts between police personnel around the country and the public made national headlines, leading for community relation talks to take place.

“When there is an open door and that conversation can be had, and some of these uncomfortable conversations can be had, it’s a little easier to get the ball rolling [between the public and the police],” Barboza added.

Barnstable Police Main Street Community Impact Service Officers

“People of Action”, is primarily composed of young people who decided to come together and take action in making the community proud and address issues head-on to make a difference, and that Unity Day is a step in that direction.

“You just got to get to know us. I know it’s scary sometimes because you see all the bad stuff on television, but here, our community has been great in backing us. We are pretty lucky,” says Barnstable Patrol Officer Brian Morrison.

The Barbozas say that it is important for both sides to have the occasion to gather peacefully together for a day of fun to show mutual appreciation.

“It all boils down to Police Officers are people too. Being a Police Officer is not what we are, it’s what we do for work. Under the uniform and badge we are regular people too, we have families in our home, [and] we deal with personal problems like everybody else,” Morrison added.

Also in attendance for this year’s event were members of Cape and Islands SWAT, BPD Bomb Squad, and the Hyannis Fire Department.

 

By, JOHN BONDAREK- CapeCod.Com News Center

Photos By, SPENCER KENNARD- CapeCod.Com

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