Maribel Castillo

The Republic | azcentral.com

The Tempe Police Department's "Run From The Cops 5K," which was scheduled to take place Saturday morning around Tempe Town Lake, has been postponed due to civil unrest in Ferguson, Mo., New York City and elsewhere.

In a statement released Thursday evening, Tempe Police Department's Chief Tom Ryff explained that a lot of consideration went into canceling Saturday's event.

"I have determined that out of sensitivity, respect and support for all sides of an important debate taking place all across our great country, it is necessary to proactively postpone this year's race," Ryff said.

When the annual event was named three years ago, the events taking place today couldn't have been predicted, Ryff said, adding that the department doesn't want the name of the event to misconstrue intentions.

The "Run From The Cops 5K" is an annual fundraiser of the Tempe Police Foundation, a non-profit organization that supplements the police department's budget and supports outreach programs.

Last year the event had a total of 400 participants, according to the foundation's website.

Rev. Oscar Tillman, the president of the Maricopa branch of the NAACP, thanked the department in a letter for canceling the run and taking the current events into consideration.

The department will notify participants of registration refunds in the near future.

The full statement can be read at: www.tempe.gov/home/.