By NICOLE LOGGINS/Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana Police Department has requested the assistance of local children of all ages to help solve the mystery of the stolen Easter eggs on April 7.

The police department will be hosting an Easter egg hunt at the Columbiana Sports Complex from 2 – 4 p.m.

There will be face painting, Easter egg bingo, a coloring contest, egg toss, Easter egg hunt and other kid-friendly activities.

Sgt. Sasha Lilly has been with the Columbiana Police Department for more than seven years and said this is the first Easter event the department has hosted.

“We’re hoping to have a great turn out,” Lilly said. “They will see us participating with them in the games and the hunt, and hopefully that will give them the sense that we are regular people and see that we do more than just apprehend bad guys.”

Many officers will be present at the event, including Police Chief Lamar Vick, Lilly said.

Participating children are encouraged to bring Easter baskets.

Lilly said the event gives children the chance to meet their neighborhood police officers and learn that they can reach out to the police department if they are ever in a bad situation.

“A lot of the kids don’t get to see us regularly, so it gives them the chance to meet us and ask any questions they have about what we do,” she said. “If they know us, they feel like they can call us if they run into any type of dangerous situations.”