Community comes out for National Night Out event in Poway – San Diego Union-Tribune

Lindsay Ramme brought her 2-year-old son, Paul, dressed in a police uniform, to the Poway’s National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

“It’s nice to have events where you can bring your kids and enjoy the community,” said Ramme, a 4S Ranch resident. “We wanted to learn about the services that are available. Obviously, Paul loves being around police officers.”

The event held between the Poway Sheriff’s station and the Poway Library off Bowron Road included displays by specialized San Diego County Sheriff’s law enforcement units. Attendees included Search & Rescue, Special Enforcement Detail with an armored car, Bomb/Arson unit with a robot, Mounted Patrol with a horse, the K-9 unit, and a Transportation unit with a bus.

The goal of the annual National Night Out is to build a report between law enforcement officials and community residents.

Christina Chaney, Poway station’s new Crime Prevention Specialist, said she was pleased with the turnout.

“Everybody seemed to have a good time and it was nice to connect with the community,” said Chaney, who started working at the Poway Sheriff’s station on June 14. “It was nice to put faces to the names of people I’ve been emailing back and forth.”

Julie Gallant

1 of 4

Detective Nick McGregor, left, helps Carter Fick maneuver one of the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson unit’s remote control devices. (Julie Gallant)

Expand

Poway resident Carie Fick also brought her son, 6-year-old Carter Fick.

“Carter is interested in trucks and what the sheriff’s deputies do,” Fick said. “We live nearby so we see the Sheriff’s all of the time. He’s interested in what they’re doing. They’re a big part of the community.”

Carter had a lesson in maneuvering one of the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson unit’s remote control devices. The tool helps officers X-ray an explosive device and then shows its contents on a screen, said Detective Nick McGregor with the unit, who showed Carter how to navigate the remote control device.

McGregor said the Bomb/Arson unit’s primary duties are to respond to suspicious device calls, investigate fires or suspected arson cases, render explosive devices safe, and to determine the cause and origin of fires.

Another vehicle on display was an armored car used by the Sheriff’s SWAT team, or Special Weapons and Tactics Team. The custom built vehicle weighs 18 tons, has armor for .50-caliber rifles and can carry up to 14 people, according to SWAT officers who use the vehicle when responding to warrants and other critical incidents.

Attendees could also check out traditional law enforcement tools used by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol unit.

Carol Crater, a volunteer with the unit, brought her horse, Ace. Along with patrolling and riding in community events, Ace is used as a “riderless horse” at Sheriff’s memorial ceremonies, Crater said. That’s when Ace wears a saddle but there is no rider, only a pair of boots that are pointed backwards, she said.

“The idea comes from John F. Kennedy’s memorial,” Crater said. “Afterward, we do a 21-gun salute.”

Sheriff’s Deputy Kyle Archibald directed people to the different booths at the event so they could get information from experts on the subject matter.

“My job is to show people around and make the kids happy,” Archibald said. “We give kids the junior deputy stickers. Kids love getting stickers.”

Julie Gallant

1 of 5

Poway Interfaith Team representatives are, from left, Steve and Abigail Albert and Robert and Sydelle Enyeart. (Julie Gallant)

Expand

Search & Rescue Reserve Commander Frank Motley said their 180-volunteer unit, which searches for missing persons, is a countywide resource. If a loved one is reported missing on a 9-1-1 call, the message will be relayed to a Search & Rescue coordinator and a search will be activated if certain criteria are met, Motley said.

“You can count on getting 40 to 60 people on any one search,” said Motley, adding that the unit averages two searches each month.

The Poway Interfaith Team offered fliers about the eighth annual Interfaith Awareness Week set for Aug. 11-17. More than 30 online presentations of about 90 minutes each will be available from interfaith groups and individuals around the world. Viewers can listen and participate in a diversity of interfaith discussions.

More information about Interfaith Awareness Week is available by emailing Rev. Steve Albert, director of the World Interfaith Network, at [email protected], or online at world-interfaith.com.

Trauma Intervention Programs of San Diego, known as TIP, had a booth at National Night Out.

“We’re called out by fire and police departments when an unfortunate situation occurs to provide emotional support,” said TIP participant Ellen Pinczewski at one of the National Night Out booths.

Citizen volunteers provide emotional first aid to survivors of tragedy to help ease their immediate suffering and facilitate their healing and long-term recovery, according to the group’s handout.