The University of Colorado Police Department will give away free pizza to students during "Hill Stops" on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24, as part of an ongoing effort to enhance relations between university students and police.听
The giveaway starts at 11 p.m. on Friday and 8 p.m. on Saturday and will end when the pizza runs out.
Officers will give away pizza and lemonade to students who stop and visit. Students should look for CU officers on the campus side of the Hill underpass at Broadway and College Avenue. Boulder Police also will participate in the Hill Stops.
Since it began in the fall of 1997, the Hill Stop program has aimed to bring students and police officers together in a nonconfrontational environment.
"This is a great way to provide outreach to people in a congenial setting," said Lt. Tim McGraw of the CU-Boulder Police Department. "We want to let people know we're here and develop a positive relationship with the students."听
The giveaway provides an opportunity for students and police officers to meet and communicate in a nonstressful atmosphere and is aimed at developing trust and respect between students and officers. Past Hill Stops have been well received by both officers and students.
"It's a great opportunity to let the students know that, yes, the police officers are human and sincerely care about them," McGraw said. "It's a lot different than the images seen on television and in movies - you don't normally think of cops giving away pizza and telling you the best way to lock up your bike."
Many students walk away from the Hill Stops with their questions answered, a better understanding of police work, more appreciation for the CU Police Department and, of course, a full stomach.
CU-Boulder's Learning the Boulder Way alcohol education program and the Greek Affairs office also are sponsors of the Hill Stop program.