Yesterday, we had the pleasure of participating in RREACT's Community Safety Day at the Columbus Division of Fire Academy—a day filled with activities aimed at enhancing community safety and wellbeing. From people lining up to receive food, to donations of unwanted prescription drugs, vaccinations, rides in the AEP Ohio bucket truck, and testing out CFD's hoses, the event was a showcase of community spirit and support. And let's not forget the chance to meet Columbus Division of Police therapy dog, Maverick, who is always a crowd favorite!
We teamed up with CPD Deputy Chief Kelly Weiner and Officer Shawn Lutz to hand out our famous slap bracelets, and as you can see, everyone enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the community. The excitement from the kids as they snapped the bracelets from flat to round was a delight to watch!
Although Starfish Board Member and CPD Deputy Chief Tim Myers was unable to attend due to training in Quantico, his presence was felt through “Flat Tim”—his cardboard cutout that we had to secure with duct tape at our station due to the windy conditions. It turned into a lot of fun, with one woman saying hello to him before she started laughing when she realized he was a cutout.
Thank you to everyone who made this event possible and memorable. We're grateful to be included in such a fantastic community initiative and are already looking forward to the next one in October! Follow Columbus Division of Fire's social media if you'd like to attend. We'd love to see you there!
