Bay Village Touch-a-Truck returns Sept. 8

K-9 officer Matt Rodriguez and “Diego” of the Rocky River Police Dept. will be at this year’s Touch-a-Truck event on Sept. 8 at the Bay police station. Photo by Denny Wendell

On Saturday, Sept. 8, from noon to 3 p.m., the Bay Village Police Department is hosting the fourth annual Touch-a-Truck event. The free event will take place rain or shine at the combined safety campus of the Bay Village police and fire departments, 28000-28100 Wolf Road. This event is for kids of all ages.

The Bay Village Police Department, Fire Department and Service Department will be present along with many other public safety service providers and community service organizations. Residents and their children will have the opportunity to meet their police officers, firefighters/paramedics and service department employees and others while exploring the wide range of vehicles. 

In addition to Bay Village equipment, guests may see MetroHealth’s Life Flight land in Cahoon Park during the event, allowing attendees to view the helicopter and talk to the nurses. The Westshore Enforcement Bureau will display their SWAT vehicle, bomb truck, hazmat unit and all their associated equipment. A Bay Schools bus will be available for kids to experience. Visit with K-9 Diego and his handler, Rocky River officer Matt Rodriguez. Visit with members of the Ohio National Guard and their Humvees.

Guests can also gather information on everything from bicycle safety and teen drivers to internet safety and social media awareness. The Bay Village Police Department Auxiliary Unit can get you signed up for the ReadyNotify emergency alert system or the Do Not Knock Registry. You may bring in your household documents to be shredded, with donations going to support the Bay Village Police Auxiliary Unit.

Food will be provided by a local food vendor. Other organizations in attendance or providing information include the FBI, Village Bicycle Cooperative, Red Cross, Westshore Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), University Hospitals Rainbow Safety Squad and Impact Teen Driving.

Parking will be available in the lot on the south side of the police department, in Cahoon Park and at Bay Middle School. 

Don’t miss the chance to climb in a fire truck, sit in the seat of a front-end loader, and turn on the emergency lights of a police car. Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions of your community service providers and receive valuable safety information. This very successful event draws over a thousand visitors and this year promises to be even bigger.

We look forward to a successful event and seeing all our school kids at the fourth annual Touch-a-Truck event!