The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) Community Relations Unit has developed a program called “PLAY COS,” which is aimed at creating more opportunities for positive interactions between officers and community members in Colorado Springs.
What is PlayCOS?
Through donations, the idea is to supply each of CSPD’s patrol divisions with sports balls (i.e. footballs, soccer balls, basketballs) for officers to keep in their cruisers to give out to kids and teens during their shift. The program also involves sports-related events (visiting local schools, clubs, community centers, etc.) in which officers interact with numerous young community members through sports and recreation. The overall goal is for this program to become a long-term, ongoing, sports program that will be a permanent fixture in CSPD’s department-wide community outreach efforts for years to come.
Why we Believe This is Important:
CSPD has long been intentional about connecting with community members, with many officers even using their own money to buy sports equipment for kids. We wanted to continue that spirit through PlayCOS. With PlayCOS now formalized, this effort strengthens our commitment to building relationships with the people we serve. By keeping sports balls in patrol cars, officers can spark brief but meaningful positive interactions with kids, teens, and families—sometimes even sharing a quick game of catch before heading to the next call. We believe these simple, light-hearted moments will help improve police–community relations by giving residents opportunities to engage with officers in a more positive and fun way.
PLAYCOS by the Numbers:
Donations as of 2025:
- Over 10,000 sports balls have been donated to local kids and teens.
- 968 sports balls have been donated to other organizations, like the Children's Hospital Colorado
Total events as of 2025:
- 185 official PlayCOS events creating over 100,000 positive community interactions
Expansion outside of Colorado Springs:
- We have helped launch and start up similar programs in Fort Collins, Colorado, Manitou Springs, Colorado, and Twin Falls, Idaho, to name a few, as well as over two dozen departments worldwide.
- We've helped lay the groundworks for local military contacts to start their own version of PlayCOS.
Awards:
- In 2022, CSPD won the International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Community Policing Award for the PlayCOS program. This award recognizes promising practices that utilize effective and long-lasting partnerships to make communities safer.
PlayCOS in Action:
10-year-old Mackenzie was reported missing, Falcon Patrol officers immediately initiated a coordinated search effort. Officers were able to locate him a short time later, ensuring his safety and well-being. During their interaction, they learned of his love of football and used that shared connection to help him feel comfortable.
Through the support of our PlayCOS program, officers provided Mackenzie with a brand new football carried in their patrol vehicle. They engaged in a quick game of catch and then discussed the importance of personal safety.
Before leaving, the officers signed the football with their names and badge numbers, offering a positive and reassuring conclusion to an otherwise stressful event. We are happy to see Mackenzie safely returned to his family and proud to see our officers continuing to do the good work and going above and beyond to help ease the stresses of an otherwise very scary situation
Donations:
If you would like to become involved in the program and/or make a donation, please reach out to the CSPD Community Relations Unit at 719-444-7410 or via email at CSPDCommunityRelations@coloradosprings.gov .
