Saline County joins movement aiming for improved community relations

When Yui Iwatomo, 6, came across the Salina Police table in Jerry Ivey Park, his eyes lit up. As other children began to gather around, he put on a SWAT tactical helmet and grinned.

Iwatomo and his friends asked officers questions and tried their best to lift the heavy gear made for people three times their size. From protective gear to drones and K-9 units, families got an immersive experience with members of Salina's Police Department at Saline County's inaugural National Night Out Tuesday.

Law enforcement, including the Saline County Sheriff's Department, Salina Police and Kansas State Highway Patrol shared the stage with an assortment of other public services and the people behind them as part of the community building event backed by a national campaign.

Those brave enough to endure the 100-degree heat got a behind-the-scenes look at how local law enforcement and other entities operate, as well as the countless services they provide.

"National Night Out provides an invaluable opportunity to deepen our connections with the community we serve," said Michelle Weis, Saline County emergency management director.

For the first year, Salina joined more than 38 million neighbors across 17,000 communities from all 50 states and U.S. territories to learn about how various entities operate within their community.

Along with law enforcement, various local entities made an appearance: Saline County Health Department, Central Kansas Mental Health, Mounted Patrol Rescue Squad, Public Works, the County Election Office, Emergency and Disaster Management, Salina Fire Department and Ambulance District, The Salvation Army, Salina League of Women Voters, Be Smart and Kansas Wesleyan University.

These organizations provided engaging activities, demonstrations and educational exhibits as a way to interact and learn about the work that first responders, public health officials, and other public service personnel do.

The Sheriff's Department had a demonstration showing how drugs and alcohol can impair vision, by having participants look through goggles that block out certain colors. Salina Police presented their drones, K-9 units and parts of SWAT gear that help protect officers in action.

"We can set these programs up for anyone in the community," said Saline County Sheriff's Deputy Rick Heinrich. "It's a great way to understand the effects (of drugs and alcohol) from a sober point of view."

Kansas Highway Patrol had a seat belt demonstration that simulated the effects of a 5-mile-per-hour crash. The Fire Department and Ambulance District presented their trucks and gear and talked about fire safety, and Mounted Rescue brought their horses and dive gear showcasing their strategies of search and rescue.

Iwatomo's inquisitive demeanor and friendly interactions with Salina Police mirrored the event's purpose — to foster a strong police-community relationship and neighborhood camaraderie.

Weis said that bringing together a variety of departments like this helps showcase the often behind-the-scenes efforts which go into making the community safe and enriching.

"Even with the heat, it has been great to see people come out," Weis said. "We hope it was informative and look forward to next year."

Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering government and education. You can reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter (now known as "X") @calfee_kc.