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"This is planting the seed," Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said Saturday morning when the Warsaw Optimist Club, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and Warsaw Police Department joined forces to educate children about law enforcement.
"This is a tremendous opportunity to work with young people in a positive way," said Warsaw Police Chief Steve Foster.
Saturday, The Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club sponsored Law Enforcement In Action Day, which showed young people several facets of law enforcement in Kosciusko County.
From forensics to K-9 officers, from the special weapons and tactics team to composite drawing, 35 children spent several hours learning about the system.
As Rovenstine and Foster welcomed the group to the program, an "escaped convict" ran into the room and barricaded himself in a room, forcing Prosecutor's Investigator Sam Whitaker to call in the SWAT team. Once the "convict," Kosciusko County Sheriff's Deputy Dalis Owens, was apprehended, members of the team explained their role in dangerous situations.
"That was the TV version of what the SWAT team does," said Rovenstine, explaining a real situation probably would have lasted several hours.
"SWAT are the people we call when we get in situations that are dangerous," said Whitaker.
Dressed in full SWAT uniform, Chuck Hodges explained the 16-member team was formed in 1995 in memory of Kosciusko County Det. Sgt. Phil Hochstetler.
"Our primary goal is the safety of officers, hostages and bystanders and even the suspect," said Hodges. "Our day is a better day if nobody gets hurt."
After the SWAT presentation, Det. Sgt. Todd Sautter explained how he makes composite drawings of suspects, and the children worked with him to make a composite drawing of the "convict" they saw earlier.
Once the composite was drawn, Owens entered the room and stood next to the composite so the children could see how accurate their memory was.
The group then moved outside for a K-9 officer demonstration as Kosciusko County Sheriff's Deputy Craig Bales introduced Justice, and Winona Lake Police Officer Chad Stevens introduced Jack, their K-9 partners. The children got the chance to see the dogs in action as Winona Lake Police officer Joe Bumbaugh donned a protective sleeve and was "the perpetrator" for the dogs to apprehend.
Following the K-9 demonstrations, the group went back inside to learn about fingerprinting and making footprint casts before watching a Taser demonstration.
"It's five seconds worth of pain," said Kosciusko County Jail Officer Tom Craft. "(The Taser) is not a toy. I think every officer needs to carry one - even on the road."
Craft demonstrated the Taser by shooting a special metal foil target that showed sparks from the electricity.
Then it was through the tunnel, connecting the old courthouse to the jail, for a lunch break. Participants ate the same meal the inmates had Saturday afternoon. The pizza, salad, apple crisp and potato chips were served by jail trustees and eaten from the trays and spoons inmates use.
After lunch, Kosciusko County Dispatch Center Director Tom Brindle explained the duties of the dispatch center and demonstrated the technology used when calls are received at the center.
Kosciusko County Derek Krieder displayed his duty belt and told the children what he carried in the belt on a normal day. Then he enlisted the help of Owens and Kosciusko County Jail Officer Eric Kelly along with a few students to demonstrate self defense moves officers use while on duty.
After taking a trip outside to inspect police vehicles, the children went back inside for a firearm demonstration and a tour of the jail.
The Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club hopes to make Law Enforcement In Action Day an annual event for area children. The group hopes to see the number of participants grow as the program continues.
