Residents mingled with police officers, horses and a helicopter at Gainesville Police’s Celebrating Safe Communities event Thursday.
About 100 people showed up to Albert “Ray” Massey Westside Recreation Center on the corner of Northwest 34th Street and Northwest Eighth Avenue for the event, which brought officers and animals from every GPD unit as well as representatives from city agencies and other police departments.
“We’re excited to have everything in one place for citizens and taxpayers to see what their police department is doing,” said GPD spokesman Officer Ben Tobias.
Early in the night, officers from the K-9 unit did a demonstration with Brady the German shepherd. Later, the mounted unit showed up with cream-colored horses decorated with GPD badges.
A highlight of the night was when the Joint Aviation Unit helicopter lifted off the ground, blowing dust toward families watching from the edge of the field.
One of those families was Janine, Mel and Connor Hayes. Both parents said they thought the event was informative for residents.
“I thought it was free!” added 9-year-old Connor, pulling bumper stickers, a water bottle and other gifts from a goodie bag.
Officer Nicole Tierney of the Crime Prevention Unit said the department hopes to continue and expand the event next year.
“We just want to make it easier on the community to see everything we do,” she said.
A version of this story ran on page 4 on 10/11/2013 under the headline "Officers, horses and a helicopter at GPD event"
