Earlier this month, the Salt River Police Department and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Youth Services Department joined forces to celebrate Community youth during the 2024 SRPD Youth Day celebration. 

The morning of January 4 proved to be overcast and a bit chilly, with the high for the day eventually reaching only 60 degrees. Thankfully, by the time the fun-filled celebration began at 10 a.m. at the Way of Life Facility’s Little League field, the sun had begun to peek out of the clouds to provide the kids with just enough sunshine for their day. 

The SRPD and SRPMIC Youth Services staff established five courses of gameplay for the kids to enjoy. Kids were grouped together by age and played with members of Youth Services and the SRPD for 30 minutes at each station. Kickball, flag football, soccer, tug-of-war, and a hula-hoop beanbag obstacle course for the little kids were all part of the fun. 

Jr. Miss Salt River Jizelle Juan and Miss Salt River Kennise McGertt were in attendance and participated in all of the stations. While playing flag football, Juan showed off her impressive arm strength by throwing a few touchdowns. 

Later, the two royalty queens playfully went head-to-head in the obstacle course footrace, which they both competed barefoot. With their crowns held off to the side by the Salt River Pageant Committee for safekeeping, the young ladies laughed for the entire length of the course as they were cheered on by everyone. Afterwards, they separated into teams at the tug-of-war station and continued to visit the rest of the stations during the event. 

Lunch was provided to the kids, and there were opportunities to win prizes such as a Phoenix Mercury beanie, basketballs, water bottles and a brand-new bicycle.