HOPE, Arkansas - Things might get messy at the Hope Police Department this December but it's for a good cause.
The Police Department is raising money for its Santa Cop program by allowing citizens the chance to smash a pie in an officer's face.
"We have had to be creative this year," said Laura Tewalt, administrative secretary for the Hope Police Department.
The department usually has a softball tournament to raise money for Santa Cop but were unable to do that this year because of Covid-19, Tewalt said. An employee came up with the idea of the pie contest for officers.
"We had several officers jump at the chance to do it," Tewalt said.
Five officers, including Police Chief J.R. Wilson, are competing.
"The chief was the first one to volunteer," Tewalt said. "There has been a lot of discussion about who might win," she said.
To participate, people just need to make a donation to the Santa Cop program and choose which officer they want.
The officer with the highest donations will get a pie in the face Dec.14 on Facebook live.
The Santa Cop program is where officers buy Christmas presents for local children. The officers and their families deliver the gifts on Christmas Eve.
For more information or to make a donation, call 870-777-3434 or visit the department at 312 South Washington St.