Dover Police launching youth video competition to focus on anti-violence

DOVER, Del. – The Dover Police Department is finding a creative, covid-friendly way to get younger generations involved in crime prevention.

The Police Chief’s Advisory Committee and the Police Athletic League are teaming up to challenge kids between 5th and 12th grades to create a video, simply talking about one of three themes: anti-gang, anti-gun and violence, or anti-drug.

Dover Police Cpl. Mark Hoffman says local businesses and organizations even got involved and donated money that will be given as the prize to winners of the competition. Hoffman says the department came up with this idea as a way to still engage with young kids in the city but do so in a safe, virtual manner.

Plus, he says kids listen to each other, so this may be a good way to reach more of them.

“People will listen to their peers, especially when it comes to the youth demographic, so if they see these positive messages or see messages where their peers are anti violence, anti drug, or anti gang, maybe it will give somebody a second thought on participating in that kind of behavior,” Cpl. Hoffman said.

The deadline to submit a video is April 16 and you can find more of the video requirements here.