Police officers and neighbors work towards a common goal for Community Action Day

Police officers and neighbors work towards a common goal

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Often times, seeing police officers in your neighborhood means something bad just happened. But on Saturday, July 12th, the Milwaukee Police Department District 5 set out on a day of community action. The goal was to show leadership and support of a neighborhood in need.

If you weren't awake by 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, the sounds from the marching band were sure to wake you up.

However, this isn't a parade. They're drumming up awareness about Saturday's Community Action Day.

"It has to be done," says Vedale Hill, volunteer.

With every beat, the crowds of volunteers took another step, a step closer to a cleaner neighborhood.

"Right here, there`s a spoon there," says Hill.

Hill works in this Harambay neighborhood, and while this trash may not be his, he's glad to be here helping to make a difference.

"We help the youth take accountability, a lot of things are popsicle wrappers, things like that, some minor things, and just to encourage them to do it with the program and without it, even on their own time," says Hill.

For the 6th year in a row the Milwaukee Police Department partnered with the COA-Golden Center and Safe House to help beautify a neighborhood that could use a little TLC, tender love and care.

"It`s really important to get out into the neighborhoods and to show our support of this neighborhood in particular," says Lieutenant Heather Wurth, Milwaukee Police Department.

But it's also building a relationship between police officers and citizens, as they walk side by side working towards a common goal.

"It gives citizens in this area and our partners an opportunity to see police in a different light," says Wurth.

A light that got a little brighter today.