‘A different perspective’: Event gives Scott residents close look at public safety

Police and Fire Department personnel often find themselves interacting with the public, but not always in relaxed circumstances. Usually, police officers and fire fighters are responding to one crisis or another on what often amounts to the worst day of someone’s life.

On Sept. 9, the circumstances were different for Scott Township Public Safety Day at the lower level of Scott Park. There were free hot dogs, pizza and soft drinks, and the township encouraged citizens to show up and visit with police and firemen to learn more about what they do.

“It’s nice for the people that we serve to come out and see us in a different perspective, just talking and chatting and having a nice time,” said Scott Township Police Chief Matthew Podsiadly. “We’re handing out a lot of materials. We’re having a show and tell. We’re showing our equipment off. We do SWAT demonstrations with the police department.”

Which begs the question: How exactly do the Police do a SWAT demonstration?

“The one thing they did last year — (an officer) rappelled from the air (down 150 feet) to showcase some of our capabilities. We’re trying to gear it towards the kids.”

There was certainly plenty for the kids who showed up to do and explore, especially when it came to learning how to fight fires. The youngsters got to take turns using a fire extinguisher to put out a propane-fueled fire controlled by Deb Getsy, Bower Hill deputy fire Chief . But she said that wasn’t all.

“We have a smoke trailer over there that kids can go through, a fire safety house,” Getsy said. “We fill it with smoke and teach you how to get out.”

Laura Lenk and her husband, Aaron, brought their boys Bastian, 11, and Keaton, 3, out for the day — although Laura seemed to indicate it was more a matter of Bastian bringing them out.

“He wanted to do this a year ago, (but) we had a conflict. So he said, ‘This year we’re not missing it.’ He put it on the schedule. He’s just very interested in fire safety and has been most of his life. He was very excited to come,” Laura said.

For his part, Bastian said he enjoyed using the fire extinguishers.

“I wanted to do this for years, and today is my day to come,” he said. However, he has his eye on becoming a policeman as opposed to a firefighter. “I want to be a West Virginia state trooper when I get older. They don’t really have a lot of state troopers down there ,and there’s a lot of crime.”

Podsiadly said by the end of the event, he expected some 200 people would come through.

“It’s a great event. You get to meet a lot of people, and we really look forward to it every year,” he said. “A lot of people don’t realize what we do, and they get to sit here and see what we do. And they love it, and they get to know us, too.”