Newtown Borough First Responders Host Community

The first in a regular series of public safety days hosted by the Newtown Borough Police Department took place on Saturday.

The event was an effort to bring the community and first responders closer together to try to reinforce a positive relationship in the borough.

Although the rain started a few hours before the event was scheduled to start, the personnel pushed forward to pull the day off. The rain did hamper some of the planned events, like a bicycle obstacle course and training routine, but residents still came out to meet with the emergency responders.

“We still work in this weather, so we decided to keep it going,” said police Cpl. James Warunek, the head organizer of the public safety day.

“This gives the community a chance to ask us questions in a friendly environment,” Warunek said.

The Newtown Fire Association and the Newtown Ambulance crews joined police to give tours and answer questions from the residents in attendance. Harry Betz from the Newtown Bicycle Shop was on site registering bicycles to help police.

The police department used to put on a “bike rodeo” years ago and this new public safety day seems to be the new iteration of that idea. The next event, set for sometime in the spring, will include officers riding with kids on bicycles.

“We hope to do this every year,” Warunek said.