One of the youngest attendees is 18 months old, and kids up to the age of 14 were welcome. 

Officers from the Pell City Police Department (PCPD) gathered at the Pell City Splash Pad on Monday to educate kids on water, bicycle, and gun safety.

“We went over a lot of safety, like to let a parent know if you see a gun, do not touch it,” Pell City Police Chief Paul Irwin, Jr. said. “We focused on teaching kids the importance of wearing a helmet for bicycle safety also.”

One little girl who attended the “Cops and Kids” event spoke up, “Chief, my mother said I don’t have to wear a helmet. She said my head is so hard it won’t hurt me at all!”

Of course, the intention of the “Cops and Kids” event is to educate the kids and parents about remaining safe around water, while riding a bicycle, and gun safety.

According to federal statistics, millions of households in the U.S. have guns, approximately 40 percent of households nationwide. While unintentional firearm fatalities are down 65 percent in the last 20 years, they still occur. The Center for Disease Control states that over 1,300 victims of unintentional shootings for the period 2005-2010 were under 25 years of age, citing that adolescents are particularly susceptible to accidental shootings due to impulsivity, feelings of invincibility, and curiosity about firearms.

Part of the educational demonstration by the PCPD including giving parents a guide to gun safety rules. For instance, always keeping the gun pointed in a safe direction, always keeping your finger off of the trigger until ready to shoot, and always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

The PCPD handed out safety literature, coloring books, water bottles, sunglasses, and badges. They also served hot dogs, drinks, chips, and popsicles and receive donations from Coke and Royal Sausage.

The Pell City Police Department will hold another “Cops and Kids” event on Monday, July 17 from 12-5 p.m. For more information, contact the Pell City Police Department at (205) 884-3334.