Little Rock Police camp aims to build trust, break down stereotypes

Written By Apo August 3, 2025 Add Comment

PARON, Ark. — Sixty young campers are taking their suitcases to gravel and getting ready to learn from the police officers in their community.

For five days, these young boys and girls will get to know the people behind the badge at the Little Rock youth camp.

Mark Edwards with the Little Rock Police Department said the camp aims to break down any stereotypes kids may feel toward law enforcement.

Police Maj. Brittany Gunn wants the camp to shape the minds of the youth in a positive way.

"For some kids, this is their first interaction with a person in law enforcement," Gunn said. "So, we want to make sure that first interaction is positive so that going forward they know that not all of us are what you see."

The camp is an effort to change the narrative of the police with a fun and interactive approach.

"We swim just about every day. We have an all-camp tournament where we're doing a water balloon fight. Officers versus kids' tug-of-war. We hike," Gunn said.

While this police youth camp has been going on for 24 years, the message has always been the same.

"It allows us to get into the community—we can meet some of the kids and hopefully tear down some of the stereotypes that kids are hearing," Edwards said.

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