National Night Out Recognized in Idaho

July 24--TWIN FALLS -- Children and adults alike gathered around the Twin Falls police bomb squad robot Tuesday evening with wide eyes.

Sgt. Ryan Howe deftly guided the machine forward, a leash on the end of its arm and a tiny dog walking beside it. The crowd laughed as Howe demonstrated how the robot could gently push a baby stroller and carefully pull a straw out of a cup of soda.

Twin Falls police, Idaho State Police troopers and Twin Falls County sheriff's deputies were all on hand at City Park along with the Twin Falls Fire Department and local paramedics to show off their tools of the trade and get to know the community for the third annual National Night Out.

"The whole idea of this is to get the community out" and create a partnership to fight crime in people's neighborhoods, police Sgt. Dennis Pullin said.

"If the citizens of the community are more comfortable, they're more apt to call us."

Police hope people will call not only when they need help, but also when they see something suspicious in their neighborhoods.

Most people encounter police at their worst moments, when they've called for help or have been pulled over for a traffic stop, Pullin said. This event gives officers a chance to meet the public on a lighter note.

"Some people are nervous around police," Pullin said. "This helps break the barrier down."

Officer JR Paredez, a SWAT member, explained the tools that the team uses when they're called out. There's a heavy vest, fire resistant clothing, a helmet with goggles, a flash-bang, gas mask and entry tools including what police call a rake, for breaking windows and a rammer, for breaking down doors.

All that gear adds on about 45 to 50 pounds without ammunition or firearms, Paredez said.

Most youngsters at the table gravitated toward the M4 rifle.

"It looks more tactical, I guess," Paredez said.

Eleven-year-old Tommy Craig got to hold the rifle and wear the SWAT vest, while swinging the door rammer.

"It's really heavy," he said.

Craig said he wanted to attend National Night Out to see all the police gear. In the future, he said, he wants to be a U.S. Navy SEAL.

Next to try on the vest was Kiko Garcia, age 8. He, too, swung the heavy rammer as his parents took pictures.

"I think every little kid always wants to try on police gear," Garcia's mother Jessica Garcia said.

Copyright 2013 - The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho