Arvada Police Jump On Painted-Rock Hunting Trend

ARVADA, CO -- Easter is coming soon, but don't look for painted eggs in Arvada's parks and public spaces. Friends of the Arvada Police are hiding something more permanent -- painted rocks with special law enforcement images. Volunteer alumni of the Arvada Citizen's Police Academy and the police department are jumping into the "painted rock" craze with their own digital treasure hunt.

Painted "kindness rocks" are being created and left in parks and public spaces across the country as a fun way to spread a little happiness. Now it's happening in Arvada.

Starting March 17, volunteers will hide colorfully painted, police-themed rocks in parks and open spaces throughout the city.

Find a rock? Keep it. Or re-hide it somewhere else.

But make sure to take a selfie with the rocks and send them to the Arvada police Facebook page, or via email at ArvadaPolicePIO@arvada.org. Pictures will be shared on Arvada Police’s social media accounts, according to a press release.

“We’re excited to engage with our community in this way,” said Nancy Mayer, president of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Assn. in an email. “We know that crime is reduced in neighborhoods where residents know and interact with one another. Our hope in launching this program is to further build those relationships.”

There will be a handful of “Thin Blue Line” rocks hidden throughout Arvada. Residents who find these special rocks can bring them in to police headquarters to redeem them for a “We Support Arvada Police” window decal, the department said in a statement.

The scavenger hunt is part of a strategy to bring Arvada neighbors together alongside the city's new Neighbors Connected program, said Interim Police Chief Ed Brady.

“Our team of volunteers does an exceptional job of helping Arvada Police with these community-minded programs that help us to build safe neighborhoods,” Brady said in a statement. “We think this is a fun, friendly and family-oriented program that builds off our Neighbors Connected program and our community-oriented policing model. We hope it is a huge success.”

Images: Arvada Police law-enforcement themed "kindness rocks."