SACO — The police department is opening its doors to the public at its first open house 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The event is free and will include tours of the police station and a police cruiser and the opportunity to meet officers in a casual setting, said Deputy Chief Raynald Demers. Officers will also be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs and serving popcorn and other snacks.

Other activities include face painting, children’s fingerprinting and child safety seat inspections.

Those who donate a nonperishable good for the Saco Food Pantry will be entered into a raffle.

The department has also hel for the past several years an annual citizen police academy, and Saturday’s event helps build and maintain the good relationship the department has with the community, said Demers.

“It’s one thing to establish a relationship, it’s another to maintain it,” Demers said.

A good relationship with the community is important so that people have confidence in their police department and understand what they do from day to day, said Demers. It’s also important in maintaining good communication and building trust.

The open house is sponsored by the Red Ribbon Committee of the Biddeford- Saco Rotary Club in an effort to create positive community connections that encourage healthy behaviors without the influences of illegal drugs and other misused substances, according to a press release from the Saco Police Department.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].