SASKATOON - The Saskatoon Police Service invited the public to a day of fun in the sun for their annual open house and barbecue, located at their headquarters downtown, held July 10
The event included police and public safety partner displays, an opportunity to dunk a police officer in support of Special Olympics, as well as food and ice cream on site.
Booths were set up along Ontario Avenue beside Police Headquarters, as well as guided tours of Headquarters were offered for those registered.
Alyson Edwards, Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications for the Saskatoon Police Service told SaskToday.ca, “We began offering tours when our headquarters building first opened ten years ago, this month. Since then, the tours have been a staple of the annual BBQ.”
Edwards said typically between 60-90 people are given the opportunity to tour their headquarters, depending on resources. Tours include a description of areas of the service such as: Forensic Identification, specialty teams like the Tactical Support Unit, Explosives Disposal Unit, the Public Safety Unit and the Canine Unit.
“We offered demonstrations at today’s event by the Canine Unit, EDU’s robot on operating and TSU was showing the Armoured Rescue Vehicle,” added Edwards.
Public Safety Displays included the Saskatoon Fire Department with an antique fire truck, the Medavie health bus, Crime-Free Multi-Housing and Crime Stoppers, to name a few.
The Saskatoon Police Services Pipes and Drums Band provided live music for this event.
Children attendees marvelled at the “cool stuff” they had the opportunity to see and experience and several utterances were heard, ‘When I grow up, I want to be a police officer’.
Community engagement can play a crucial role in policing as positive interactions such as public events like this can increase public perception of safety, trust and confidence in law enforcement while contributing to a sense of security.
