Photos: Utica Police Hold Surprise Cookout At Quinn Playground

Attendees at this weekend's 'Welcome to the Hood' basketball tournament at Quinn Playground in Utica got a surprise from police.

Officers showed up to hold one of their 'Surprised Community Cookouts'. Officials say they served over 400 hotdogs during the two-day event. It's part of the UPD's ongoing effort to foster a better relationship between the police and the inner city.

Earlier this month, Utica Police also held a cookout at a back to school celebration hosted by JCTOD Outreach in Cornhill.