Crowd turns out for Tamaqua kids and cops event

The holding cells at the Tamaqua Police Station were filled beyond capacity Tuesday night. Unlike the cells’ usual occupants, these “jailbirds” were excited and happy to be there as part of a “kids and cops” event.

Hosted by Tamaqua Mayor Nathan Gerace, the event was designed to provide local children with an opportunity to become familiar with officers in a fun setting, and there was tons of fun for everyone involved.

Scheduled to be held from 6 to 7 p.m., and with the promise of ice cream sundaes at the end, members of the police department were unsure of just how many visitors would arrive but felt prepared for anything. What they weren’t prepared for was the huge number of people who attended. Initial plans for one big tour group, followed by the ice cream, were quickly scrapped. Instead, the children were broken up into groups of 20 to 25. There was also a run for more ice cream.

As they waited for their tours, the crowd was entertained by McGruff the Crime Dog and patrolmen Fred Lahovski, Michael Weaver and Ryan Poeldmark. Once inside the station, the tours were met by Cpl. Michael Hobbs and Gerace. As everyone crowded into the holding cell area, the children were given an opportunity to enter a cell. Once their curiosity was satisfied, Hobbs jokingly placed the mayor inside a cell and slammed the door shut. The resulting bang made some in the audience nervous, but the tension was lightened when Hobbs handed the key to one child in the crowd and asked if they wanted to lock the mayor inside. The answer was a resounding yes for each and every tour.

The children were also happy to allow the mayor to go free.

Then it was back outside, where every child had the chance to sit in a squad car and activate the lights and sirens. The majority just watched, but a few of the more intrepid participants gleefully split the air with the whoop whoop of the sirens.

After the vehicle tour, it was time for ice cream, which was available in the council chambers. Police clerk Edie Moyer was on hand with coloring books and pencils which the children could take home.

Everyone involved agreed it was “an absolutely incredible night.”

“I never expected such a large crowd” was heard from each of the officers.

Gerace was amazed at the turnout. “You never know how successful such an event will be. I looked out the window about 10 minutes to six and saw about a dozen children with their parents. I thought, this is going to be all right. When we opened the doors at six, there were already more than 50 kids in the parking lot. And they just kept coming. Kids and cops is definitely going to become an annual event.”

At the end of the evening, approximately 125 children and their parents left the station knowing where they could turn if they ever needed help.