National Night Out-Harrisonburg, VA August 3, 2011

National Night Out is, obviously, a national event. I had not heard about it until I moved to Harrisonburg and got involved with public safety. However, I do remember living in Liberty Square my first year out of school when the caravan of police, fire and rescue went past my house with lights on. I freaked. I ran up and got my roommate because Sean wasn’t home, and asked if he knew what was going on. I thought there was a fugitive, a stand-off, or maybe a bomb! It was crazy. And now, I ride the bus and watch the people watch us roll by with confused looks…that used to be me. One lady was gardening and just stood there with a trowel not knowing what to think. The only hint of what’s going on is the bus’s sign saying “Special” and “National Night Out”.

It’s a wonderful event where the public safety officers, city counsel members, and others gather with the community to talk safety. The purpose is to get neighbors to talk to each other about problems or potential problems. It’s to get the citizens comfortable with the people in uniform. They aren’t scary (unless you’re doing something wrong) I promise! For someone who wants to get involved in social marketing, this is the best event I can possibly do!

I was with Harrisonburg Fire Department representing Safe Kids. My job was to give out “Junior Firefighter” pins and plastic fire hats. But while doing it, I was talking to the kids about what they do when the smoke detector goes off and how they get out. My favorite questions was, “What does the smoke detector sound like?” The kids were great and I think they had a lot of fun.

There were five stops this year: 5:00 Court Square; 5:30 Lucy Simms School; 6:15 Harris Gardens; 6:50 Clay Street; 7:25 Purcell Park; 8:00 Mosby Court. The most impressive thing was watching the bicycle officers ride to all these places with us. That, and, the motorcycle officers blocking streets then zooming past with lights and sirens. I think the officers get a kick out of the leapfrogging too

The groups of people that get together really do a wonderful job. There were big community events with a lot going on, and then there were smaller neighborhood watch events in a backyard. It doesn’t matter how they get together, but the fact that they do, and that they care about the safety of the people around them, is the most important thing. And that’s what we like to see.

For more photos check out Harrisonburg Fire Department’s Facebook Page & Central Shenandoah Valley Safe Kids Coalition’s Facebook Page

Chick-Fil-A Cows!

Erin & Jess with Family

Jess with the officers

Jess with ladies from Records

Role Playing with HPD March 23, 2011

On Saturday I had the opportunity to help train our Civil Disturbance Unit by participating in role playing. I did this 2 years ago and then last year had another engagement (or was on our honeymoon) and wasn’t able to help out. I got involved after Citizens Police Academy in 2008 when I became part of Citizens Police Academy Alumni. It’s cool because they’ve already done background checks and such on you, so it’s not as much of a liability as if they just posted it on Facebook asking for volunteers. You just never know who might want to “help”.

This year I talk my friend Danielle and her sister Brianna into going with me, and my friend Jonathan was already planning on going as well. It was so nice to go with friends! The girls were nervous because they didn’t know what to expect. Rightfully so, you’re going against the riot police, even in a controlled situation it’s pretty intense. But this time wasn’t too bad, worst part was 2.5 hours of waiting to throw things.

Training is important with any job, but police officers have to be ready for anything at anytime. Rioters have a very specific reason for not wanting to listen to the police. They are “protecting” their rights, they are drunk, they don’t understand, they are scared, they just want to be left alone, and so many other reasons. Last year, JMU off campus housing had a huge uncontrolled party and people began to riot. Dumpsters were set on fire, bottles were thrown, even a police K-9 was hit (you have no idea how upset that made me and a lot of people!). Read an article about that incident by hburgnews.com here.

Our job for Saturday morning was to taunt, throw tennis balls, and loot. Sometimes it seems fun and sometimes its just as scary as I can imagine an uncontrolled situation being. But it was completely controlled. As role players, we had a liaison officer who would communicate instructions and let us know how the officers will respond. Those guys, when they are suited up, are just plain scary looking. If it wasn’t training, I wouldn’t be throwing things and yelling, I would be running away!

Afterward, we thank the officers and they thank us too. I feel like I am really helping the community when I help police officers train, or help citizens understand why officers do certain things. I can leave feeling good about what I have done.