Area youth can play a pick-up game of basketball and pick up safety knowledge from local police officers at an upcoming camp. 

Commander Mike Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department is one of the officers helping organize the Cops Care Basketball Camp in August. 

Wilson said it’s been a few years since they’ve hosted a basketball camp and they wanted to bring it back this year. 

“This year we’re doing something a little bit different,” Wilson said. “Besides basketball we’re going to have some things on conflict resolution, internet safety and we’re going to have the fire department there on fire safety and we’ll have some bike safety. Just a few different classes during the morning and then the afternoon will be all basketball.” 

Wilson said one of the days of camp will be a public safety day and firefighters, juvenile officers, ambulance personnel and state troopers will all be participating during the camp at some point. 

He said the camp is a way to let kids ask questions, meet law enforcement officers and it’s another way to reach out to community. 

“Today we see a lot of negative things about police,” Wilson said. “It’s good that the kids get to know us and see us. We’re there for them and to help people and things like that, so just building those relationships within the community.” 

The free basketball camp for youth ages 9 to 12 takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., August 2-4 at the REC Center. Lunch is provided each day. For more information or to preregister, stop by the Police Department lobby between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or call Commander Mike Wilson at (816) 271-4881 or Sgt. Greg Gilpin at (816) 236-1473.