By Dylan SYLVESTER

The Glendale Police Dept. opened its doors to offer the community an introduction to the people behind the shields at its second annual open house on June 4. Officers shared stories of their work with Glendale and Crescenta Valley residents while flipping hot dogs.

“It’s our way of opening our doors to the public,” said officer Joe Allen, who was speeding around on a Segway greeting the guests. He spoke about the importance of sharing the GPD’s efforts with the community and teaching the public about ways they can contribute to the overall well-being of the area. GPD officers were ready to answer questions about safety issues while overseeing displays of SWAT vehicles, off-road patrol cars and even a police helicopter that were onsite.

Part of the day’s activities was a bike safety rodeo. Officers with the Glendale police bicycle patrol team were helping kids through a bike path riddled with obstacles that bikers might encounter when traveling on the road. The exercise served to emphasize “the importance of following the rules of the road” said officer Oscar Rodriguez, as well as to show the benefits of owning a bicycle.

Visitors also had the chance to see the inside of the police station and its various divisions, which provided an in-depth look at the variety of police work performed. Representatives from local organizations promoting mental health outreach as well as community services were on hand as well.

For those interested in a tasty way to support their local police, local families provided goodies for a bake sale with profits benefiting the local station.

The busy day included rock wall climbing, checking out cars and learning more about the Glendale police. At the end of the event, visitors were almost literally blown away when the helicopter lifted off to return to its hangar in Burbank.

  DYLAN SYLVESTER