By Benicia Ciara
On a sweltering summer day, residents were met not just with heat—but with heart.
The Inkster Police Department, led by Chief Tamika Jenkins, rolled in their new ice cream truck to hand out free ice cream and bottled water to residents.
“This is not just about treats,” Chief Jenkins said. “It was about bridging the gap between the police department and the community, and we love it because I don’t think a lot of citizens expect for us to give back and do things on this level.”
The initiative was a joint effort between the City of Inkster, Mayor Byron H. Nolen, and local business partners. One of the department’s community collaborators, Alex, donated the truck, while vendor Dominique—a longtime partner on local projects—provided the truck’s vibrant custom wrap.
In a lighthearted moment, Jenkins shared that Inkster’s own Officer Fred drove the truck to Flint for the Midwest Invitational Rodeo, where it completely sold out—proving the truck’s success goes beyond city limits.
While used at free community events, the truck is also available for paid bookings in other cities.
“The revenue we make from those events goes right back into our community efforts,” Jenkins noted.
The department encourages the public to follow their journey and upcoming events on social.
In a time when community trust can feel fragile, moments like this remind residents that sometimes, the best kind of policing comes with a side of sprinkles.
