Meet and mingle with Wasco police

The Wasco Police Department will host its first-ever Chill with a Cop at Barker Park on Thursday, Aug. 1. There's no agenda – just a chance to interact in a friendly setting with the men and women who help keep the city safe.

Sergeant Lloyd Galutira is spearheading the event, which will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. "The Wasco Police Department is dedicated to building trust and creating strong relationships with the community," he said. "We wanted to come up with an event that focused on the children. This event allows them to meet officers in a relaxed environment to get to know them better so they can feel more comfortable with our officers and at the same time enjoy some ice cream during these hot summer days."

He said open communication and mutual respect are essential to establishing a safer and more connected neighborhood. These are positive interactions that strengthen the bond between community members and officers.

With the event geared toward youth, the new department wants them to know that anyone can come to a police officer with any issue they have without fear. "There are a lot of younger kids that are out there that think that all police are bad and that all they do is take people to jail. We don't want them to think that is all we do."

He said that the dialogue will be open. "It's whatever they want to talk about. It will be a normal conversation."

Those in attendance will include Wasco Police Department officers and some city officials. Lieutenant Alecio Mora said, "I invite our community to enjoy a scoop of ice cream and spark a conversation with our local police force. By sharing a treat, we can learn about the important work officers do and how we can support our law enforcement efforts in the community."

Chill with a Cop is only one of many activities the department has planned to engage with the community in the near future. "We are currently working on that. We have a few things coming up. We will be putting together many more outreach and community events," Galutira said.

The event is made possible by the generous support of several businesses, including Wasco Grocery Outlet, MV AutoWorks and the Brazilian Wax Boutique of Bakersfield.

The event will take place from 11 am to 1 pm Barker Park is located at Poso Drive and Poplar Avenue. For more information, contact Sergeant Lloyd Galutira at lgalutira@wascopd.org.