Marblehead to hold public safety day Aug. 22

MARBLEHEAD – The Marblehead Police Department in cooperation with the Marblehead Fire Department will host a Public Safety Day on Saturday, Aug. 22 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at Seaside ParkThe event will feature displays of police and fire equipment, response vehicles and mobile command posts from various local, state and federal public safety agencies.Families who attend will have the opportunity to watch some of the equipment in action, as several communities have agreed to put on live demonstrations, including an opportunity for children to interact with personnel and the equipment they use.Members of each agency will be on hand to explain how each piece of equipment works and how it helps the public safety teams do their jobs.Aside from traditional police and fire apparatus, the day will feature several special operations vehicles and military equipment, including a National Guard and Coast Guard helicopter.In conjunction with Public Safety Day, Marblehead Police Chief Robert Picariello plans an open house at Marblehead Police Headquarters, providing the public an up close and personal look at the 911-dispatch center, cell and booking areas and the criminal investigation division.As part of the open house, the Governor’s Auto Theft Strike Force will be on hand to provide their VIN Etching program. For $10, which covers the cost of materials, the Strike Force will etch a Vehicle Identification Number into each of a vehicle’s windows to help protect against auto theft.The VIN etching serves as a deterrent to auto theft and greatly assists in the recovery of stolen vehicles. It takes several minutes to etch each vehicle and no appointment is necessary.”The program will allow children and adults alike a rare, close up look at the agencies that work hard to keep the public safe on a daily basis,” said Picariello. “(I anticipate) a fun and exciting day for all who attend.”Marblehead Public Safety Day is free and open to the public.The following is a tentative list of the agencies attending: Marblehead Police Department (Open house, cruisers, motorcycle, mountain bike unit); Marblehead Fire Department (“Smoke house,” “Squirt house,” “touch a fire truck,” auto extrication demonstration); Atlantic Ambulance Ambulances (response trailer, “Andy the Ambulance”); Northeast Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC Mobile Command Center and RTT/SWAT truck); Essex County Sherriff’s Department K9 Unit (K9 Demonstrations); Marblehead Harbormaster truck and equipment; Marblehead Animal Control; Marblehead Municipal Electric Light Department; Marblehead Highway Department; Massachusetts Environmental Police trucks, ATVs, jet skis; American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay Disaster Services emergency response vehicle; Middlesex Sherriff’s Department Mobile Command Center; Swampscott Police Department cruisers and motorcycle; Salem Police Department dive team, truck and T-3 Segways; Beverly Fire Department dive team and truck; Transit Police; Massachusetts National Guard Humvee and Blackhawk helicopter; Bill’s Auto Clinic tow trucks and response equipment; Lynn JROTC Drill Team; Peabody Police Department DARE car; Georgetown Police Department; Salem State College Police Department; Massachusetts Governor’s Auto Theft Strike Force VIN etching program; North Shore Medical Center community outreach vehicle; Mothers Against Drunk Driving; U.S Army, Navy, and Marine Corps recruiting; Middleton Police Department and the United States Coast Guard’s 25′ RIB, Jayhawk Helicopter.For more information, contact Scott Kaufman at the Marblehead Police Department at 781-631-1212.