Rexburg Police Department hosts picnic for special guests
“As you look at these little kids face, and they take a badge, or they take something from us, their excitement. Their genuine pure and thoughtful of us, they care about our feelings as well as we care about theirs,” said Rexburg Police Department’s Lt. Colin Erickson.
The Rexburg Police Department hosted their 8th annual luncheon with the special needs community on Tuesday. It’s an event that gives those with special needs a time to spend time and bond with those who they can call when they’re in need of rescue.
“To get to know us, to get comfortable with us and just in case they have any kind of emergency. They can call us out and be comfortable around emergency services.”
Amy Elison and her son Isaiah have been coming to the luncheon for the past few years.
Being able to connect with emergency personnel has taught her special needs son to be open and trusting of them. So much so, that anytime someone from one of the emergency teams spots Isaiah around the community, they stop and have a chat.
“We’ve had to call 911 in the past, and we talk a lot at home about how the emergency responders are helpers in our community and it’s great for him to know who the helpers are,” said Elison.
Having the opportunity to connect and socialize with police, firefighters and EMT is the main highlight of the luncheon, depending on whom you ask of course.
“Well he loves the hot dogs, but it’s just fun to mix and mingle with the heroes of our community.”
Lt. Erickson has been in charge of the event since Chief Shane Turman came up with the idea 8 years ago. Over the years it has grown and evolved. At Tuesday’s event community members could check out emergency vehicles, ride the police golf cart and segway and of course enjoy a delicious meal prepared by the police department.
“This year they called me, they said when are you going to put this on, what is the date, we need to get this on our calendar. All of their clients were asking about it, they wanted to know when they were going to have the luncheon with the police officers.”
