POLICE ENTHRALL CAMP SPLASH KIDS
From bopping to dance music to getting up close and personal with police and police equipment, including a patrol car's lights and sirens, kids with Vacaville's “Camp Splash” experienced a little bit of everything Friday morning.
It was definitely a fun and activity-packed day, said Aerick Hood, event coordinator and a recreation specialist with the city.
For 10 weeks, “Camp Splash” youths ages 6-11 spent time at Three Oaks Community Center and nearby Graham Aquatic Center. Each week featured a theme and this week's was all about first responders.
“The Fire Department came and talked about fire safety,” Hood remembered. “A former dispatcher … talked about 911 calls. And we did crafts, we made police hats and badges out of wood shaped like badges. They got to paint them and take them home.”
On Friday, a Vacaville police crew came to speak to the pint-sized campers.
As the youths wiggled and fiddled from their spots on the floor, Community Policing Outreach Specialist Amber McCabe, Public Safety Dispatcher Sarah Dahl, Officer Abbigail Isenhour and Chief Ian Schmutzler engaged with the kids, who had millions of questions about, well, everything.
McCabe and Dahl explained the ins and outs of 911 calls, using a picture book as a reference.
The pair talked about when to make a call, what information to have and related issues. One important message imparted “We need to know where you are so we can send help,” Dahl advised.
“We need you to always stay on the phone.”
Make sure to know your parents' names, your address and phone number, where you are if you're lost. If you don't know, they said, describe the area, any buildings or businesses, if there's a road nearby.
“It's OK if you don't know the answer. Just say `I don't know,'” the dispatcher con
tinued.
Another important message — 911 is not used for games or prank calls. Tying up the line for a silly reason could lead to injury, or further injury, of someone who really needs help.
Next came a series of situations where campers had to determine whether they were emergencies. A lost dog? No. How about a stranger offering a ride or a you're bit by a snake? Yes.
Isenhour spoke about being anw officer and all the different components of her uniform.
The kids oohed and aahed with each statement, asking about her protective vest, her handcuffs and handcuff keys. Then, they asked about her firearm.
“You don't shoot anyone unless you absolutely need to,” she explained, saying there are strict rules to follow. That led to a conversation about gun safety.
“As a kid, we don't touch them, right? No,” she emphasized. “If someone leaves a gun behind, don't touch it.”
Promising to take the group out for a tour of her patrol car, Isenhour reminded the youths that they're special to officers so not to be afraid.
“When you see us driving around, make sure you say hi,” she said.
Schmutzler agreed, talking about different specialties within the department and, in general, the mission of all police.
“It's to keep you and your family safe,” he said. “We are guardians. We are guardians of our community.”
After several rounds of kids asking him if he knew various police employees to community members, he finally answered that Vacaville was too big for him to name everyone. But, he shared, he did grow up in Solano and work here for 22 of 25 years in law enforcement, so he definitely is familiar with many local people.
As the kids were fascinated with Tasers, he gave a brief introduction and showed them, pointing at a wall, the red dots that appear when the weapon is ready to fire.
Asked what it feels like to be Tasered, Schmutzler replied, “I've never been kicked by a horse. But if I was, I'd imagine it'd feel like that.” Kids.
The camp continues with next week's theme of “Camp Splash,” featuring lots of water activities such as swimming and squirt guns and the like.