Mayor Jack Poll meets up with residents and officers. 
The Grace Christian University National Night Out organizing group with officers. 
A member of the Wyoming tactical team helps a student try on gear. 
A student tries lifting a shield. 
Tents with goodies and surprises were open to the public. 
K9 Chase with Officer Ryan Patterson (right) 
Wyoming K9 Chase waiting for his audience. 
Members of the community visited at the Grace Christian University event. 
Officer Pam Keen talks to a resident. 
Some area children have fun on the slip-n-slide 
Cooling off on the slip-n-slide 
Lots of laughter at the slip-n-slide 
The nine-square game was popular 
Wyoming Public Safety Chaplin Rick Pilieci and Officer Pam Keen wrap hot dogs 
Wyoming Public Safety officers at Grace Christian University. 
Chris Kowalski, the children’s director at Clyde Park Church of the Narazene, makes cotton candy 
Police cars at Grand Rapids First 
Residents visit with officers at Grand Rapids First 
Some local children get an inside look at a police car. 
Residents checked out the police vehicles. 
Grand Rapids First also hosted a National Night Out event. 
Wyoming Public Safety had booths with information and prizes 
K9 Max makes a new a friend 
The newest addition to the force: K9 Max 
K9 Max, with the department for two months, meets the residents 
Officers help residents check out the motorcycles 
Always a big hit are the motorcycles
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
Police cars, K9 officers, food, and a slip-n-slide were all part of the Wyoming National Night Out event which took place Tuesday, Aug. 3.
This year, the city had two main National Night Out events, one at Grand Rapids First and the other at Grace Christian University. Sgt. Brian Look said the department wanted a location in the northland of the city and one in the south to make the event as accessible to as many residents as possible.
“We love the engagement with the community,” said Rick Pilieci, Grace Christian University pastor and chaplain for the Wyoming Public Department of Safety. “We have a strong partnership with the department because officers do come into our criminal justice program.
“We believe in the message that the city is focused on for this event, communicate safety. It is just a great opportunity for us meet our neighbors and the community.”
At the Grace Christian University event, there was hot dogs, popcorn, and donuts from Marge’s Donut Den. Also on site was the Clyde Park Church of the Nazarene, which provided cotton candy and snow cones. Activities included the game nine-square and a slip-n-slide. The Wyoming Department of Public Safety had police cars, motorcycles, the tactical truck and K9 Chase was wowing the crowd.
Meanwhile, the newest member of the K9 unit, Max, was busy meeting Wyoming residents at Grand Rapids First, which also had police cars and motorcycles along with a fire truck. Visitors enjoyed cool treats while checking out the vehicles and talking to officers about safety tips.
“It is an opportunity for our community to get together with our public safety people and show appreciation both ways, our public safety people for what our citizens do for them and certainly what they do for us in keeping us safe,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “It gets everybody talking and communicating and the more we know our neighbors, the safer our community is.”
