The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has wrapped up another installment of its Safety Town program, aimed at teaching kids from 4 to 12 about essential safety topics, as Sheriff Oscar Ugarte took to social media to herald the successful completion of the event. The initiative, hosted at Surratt Elementary School, spanned three days and included deputies leading hands-on sessions on gun safety, road safety, bike safety, anti-bullying, and stranger danger, which were also featured, all to instill important safety habits and foster a connection between law enforcement and community youth, according to El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
With interactive modules like Safety Town, where small ones pedaled around a miniature town complete with all fixtures the real roads offer stop signs, crosswalks, stop lamps, houses, and trees to educate them on bike safety, which marked one of the most engaging aspects of the program according to the Sheriff's Office, the youthful attendees were not only imbibed with practical knowledge but were also given a platform to build a measure of trust with the officers that protect and serve their community, a draw in itself that makes the event standout in the sprawling landscape of community engagement efforts.
Deputies took advantage of the program to highlight safety tips, and a graduation ceremony capped off the event, culminating in a blend of fun and education with a pizza party, as reported by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in their Facebook post. Not just a one-off, the Sheriff's Office maintains an intent for continuous engagement through Safety Town, signaling future events for those interested in participating or seeking more information.
