Monterey first responders are hosting a community-wide water gun fight Wednesday to foster engagement between local children and police.
Monterey Police Department Public Information Officer David Corley said an officer’s idea has since expanded to include participation from the Monterey Fire Department, Putnam County Fire Department, Putnam County EMS and the Putnam County Rescue Squad.
“We put it out on social media and it kind of grew its own legs,” Corley said. “And we’re really looking forward to a large turnout tomorrow from the kids and their parents and families, and first responders.”
Corley said as a first responder, the importance of familiarity can be hard to measure.
“It’s invaluable,” Corley said. “You could you could not put a price on that. We we strive every day to interact with our community and, you know, there’s lots of times we’ll ride down the street and see somebody, they’ll throw their hand up and wave, call out our name to us.”
Corley said the event is free to the public and is not being used as a fundraiser for any of the involved agencies. The event begins at 2pm in Standing Stone park adjacent to the public library on East Commercial Avenue.
Corley said while the original social media announcement encouraged participants to bring their own water guns, the department is working to provide spare ones for those who do not have their own. Corley said several emergency vehicles will be on-site for the duration of the event.
“We want to, especially with the kids, we want them to know that, that they’re never to, to, you know, not be afraid of ever coming to a police officer if they ever need us, if they if they need help, that that they know they can come to us and they’re going to get that help,” Corley said. “We want to engage with their with their families, you know, same thing. You know, we want people to come to us and talk to us and, um, just, just, you know, communicate with us every day.”
Corley said the interest from local adults and businesses has been a surprising development since the event was first announced. Corley said officers have been advised to bring a change of clothes and wear items they do not mind getting dirty or muddy. Adults online have even joked that since the department has extended the all-ages invite, they can not take it back.
“We just hope that this is another thing that we can do to interact with the community and the community interact with us, and help build goodwill and just have fun,” Corley said.
With the battle gathering steam on social media, Corley said he would not be surprised if local residents came out water guns blazing. While the public is recommended to bring their own equipment, Corley said there will be some spare splashers on-site for participants.
“I’m sure there’s going to be some folks, and probably some of the kids that are probably going to be very competitive,” Corley said. “We’ve told our officers, make sure that you bring, extra clothes tomorrow, make make sure you’re wearing something that you do not mind getting dirty and muddy.”