Officers Tania Velez (left), Charlie Neal (middle), and Barry Foust (right) show off motorcycle skills as the Block Party. Photo by Vernon Miles.
See more Summer Block Party photos on Facebook.
When the community interacts with police, Ashley Savage, the Arlington Police public information officer, says it’s usually not because everything is going well. The Summer Block Party on Aug. 27 at Kenmore Middle School is part of an effort to change that.
“When police go out into the community, usually something is wrong,” said Savage. “This is a chance to engage with the community in a positive way.”
Some of the programs at the event included “15 minutes behind the badge,” where citizens got a chance to see the kinds of situations police encounter, and a simulation for how vision is impaired by alcohol.