Annual Pride Academy cancelled due to rising COVID—19 cases

TEXARKANA, Ark. - Police have had to cancel the annual Pride Academy due to rising COVID cases.

"We must consider the health and safety of our kiddos above all else. As cases continue to rise with more and more new cases being children, we cannot in good conscience place any child in danger or risk them getting sick," said Cpl. Kelly Pilgreen, spokesman for the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department.

Pride Academy was started to provide mentors and positive leadership to students in the Texarkana Arkansas School District. It is held each August but was also cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.

"We know things are tough right now and our kids are missing so much. For TAPD, our officers, the presenters, and all the volunteers, we are very disappointed we will not have the opportunity to celebrate the 10 Year Anniversary in Pride style," Pilgreen said.

Officers view this as a temporary setback.

"We know that this will not last forever," Pilgreen said. "We will get back to having Pride Academy and make it better than ever. We are confident in our past Pride graduates and know they'll persevere and act as mentors to students to whom we could not provide the Pride experience."

The program is made possible via support from the Texarkana Arkansas School District, sponsors, leadership groups and committed TAPD officers.

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