Kids, cops, cars and canines
<p>William Babor of Hayden checks out vintage cars Saturday at the fifth annual Cops-n-Kids and Rodders-n-More Open House at the Post Falls City police department. In-service and retired emergency vehicles were on display as well.</p>
<p>Post Falls Police officer Frank Bowne answers questions about Koda, laying down, a police service dog that is being forced into early retirement due to a neurological disorder, Saturday at the Cops-n-Kids and Rodders-n-More Open house. Bowne, Koda’s handler, demonstrated Koda’s ability to find small objects in a field at the open house.</p>
<p>At left, Braxton, 9, and Cameron Cerise, 3, scope out a restored 1951 MGTD Saturday at the fifth annual Cops-n-Kids and Rodders-n-More Open House at the Post Falls City police department. The MGTD is a 20-year restoration project by Bob Hughes and Ray Peterson.</p>
POST FALLS - A lone police siren wailed, followed by a chorus of other police sirens.
The Tribute to First Responders Parade included police cruisers, SUVs, motorcycles, medical transportation and other emergency vehicles that cruised along Polston Avenue on Saturday, their blaring sirens impressive to many of the onlooking children.
"Woah, that was cool!" a blond little boy in glasses exclaimed when the sirens quieted.
The parade was part of the fifth annual Cops-n-Kids and Rodders-n-More Open House, which invited families and members of the public to spend part of their day with the Post Falls Police Department.
The open house allowed people to glimpse into the station and see the inner workings of the River City's finest.
"I think it's great," said Madison Hanners of Coeur d'Alene, who brought her children, 6-year-old Cale and 1 ?-year-old Marek, to the Cops-n-Kids event.
"It gives the kids an idea of what they do," she said. "They're opening their doors so we can see what they do and see their vehicles."
The day included a picnic-style hot dog lunch, music, educational booths and plenty of activities for kids. It was also the largest Rodders-n-More car show yet, with more than 85 classic and custom entries, such as Rod Campbell's sweet 1966 "gasser" Ford, the "Buckin' Mustang."
"It's just getting bigger and better," Campbell said of the joint event. "People are loving coming down here and supporting the Post Falls Police. They show the dogs here, and people love watching that kind of stuff. You can just see the community really gather around us, and as the shows get bigger and better they're more fun."
The day also provided an opportunity for community members to interact with law enforcement officers, who answered questions and gave badge stickers to little future deputies.
"In a global perspective, I think that any police and community relations on a positive note is a good thing, because in the media, the police are constantly being portrayed as the bad guy," said Steve Lux of Post Falls. "In any profession there's a few bad apples, but the majority of the police, of course, are excellent professionals, consummate professionals."
Post Falls Police Chief Scot Haug said the open house has actually been an annual event since 2009, but it has grown to include more activities and the car show.
"That's what we're trying to do is build relationships with the kids, the parents, and have everybody come down and just have a good time," he said. "It feels excellent, and this is what law enforcement should be about, is understanding that yes, we're the police officers out there policing the community, but we need the community's support to be able to be effective, and the best way you're effective is to build relationships. You build those relationships by getting together, talking to people and letting them see that, hey, we're just normal people, just like you are."
He said the open house is a great opportunity for people to see "what our capabilities are, they can meet with the SWAT team. And so many times, there is misinformation out there about the capabilities we have and how we do business, so what better way for someone to be able to come down and ask the questions face to face, see the equipment, walk through the police department and see that nothing's secret here, it's just what we do.
"In this day and age, across the country, with what law enforcement's dealing with, it's great to see the community come out and show their support for their police department," Haug continued. "That's awesome."