Sherwood Police scrap Halloween eve ‘Hide & Seek with a Cop’ event, citing safety concerns

SHERWOOD, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Sherwood Police Department only had fun and community connections in mind when it announced a “Hide & Seek with a Cop” event for the day before Halloween. But some of the reaction has led to its cancellation.

The event was planned for Stella Olsen Memorial Park. Sherwood police, in full uniform and armed, planned to start the game by hiding, then attempt to tag participants as they run through the park.

The was a newly planned event, similar to previous ones involving bowling or fishing for a cop, KPTV Fox 12 reported. While many comments on social media were supportive and jovial, others questioned if the event would strengthen community trust in the officers. 

Here's the update the department posted to its Facebook page Friday night:

"We want to start by expressing our gratitude for the continued support you show our department and the enthusiasm you’ve shared for our planned Hide and Seek event. Our goal was to foster positive, fun interactions between officers and residents—a time for everyone to connect and enjoy themselves.

"Unfortunately, recent media coverage has reshaped the perception of this event, causing concerns about safety. We understand how crucial it is to prioritize the well-being of both our community members and officers, and as such, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Hide and Seek with a Cop event.

"We are disappointed, as we were truly looking forward to this opportunity to connect with you. However, our team is actively exploring new ideas for future events that will bring us together safely and supportively. We look forward to planning another community-focused activity soon.

"Thank you for your understanding and for helping us make our community a safe, welcoming place for all. We appreciate you," the department concluded.

More than 300 responses had been posted by late Sunday, most supportive of police and calling it unfortunate that the event had been canceled.