The Tempe Police Department’s third annual “Run from the Cops” charity race has been postponed, due to recent demonstrations around the country.
In a statement posted on the Arizona police department’s website, the event was postponed “out of sensitivity, respect, and support for all sides of an important debate taking place.”
Tempe Police Chief Tom Ryff sent a letter to department employees explaining that he did not want the name to be misunderstood after two grand juries in Missouri and New York failed to indict White cops in the deaths of unarmed black men and triggered demonstrations.
The interactive race, which benefits the Tempe Police Foundation, had runners start the race and then three minutes later uniformed officers would follow.
"It's a play with words I guess, and we don't want people to look at this event like we're trying to make a divide between law enforcement and the community,” Lt. Mike Pooley told FOX 10 Phoenix. “We're actually trying to bring law enforcement into the community and have some type of positive relationship for a good cause. Sometimes those best intentions can sometimes be misinterpreted.”
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