FORT RUCKER, Ala. (May 29, 2015) -- Police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians play a vital role in any community, and Fort Rucker's first responders want to be on a first-name basis with members of the community they serve.
The Fort Rucker Directorate of Public Safety held its Family Day at the Munson Heights Neighborhood Center May 20 as a way for people in the community to get to know their first responders, said Peggy Contreras, Fort Rucker Community Police supervisor.
"We want to provide an outreach program to the community for people in the communities to get to know the first responders -- police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians -- as a way to give back a little to the community," she said. "This is a good opportunity for them to come and ask questions and find out what's going on in their community. It's also a great way for the children to get to know who they should be dealing with in an emergency situation and to not be afraid."
The outreach is held quarterly throughout the various neighborhood centers and serves as a way to make the first responders more approachable, especially for newer families, Contreras said.
"This makes for a smoother transition for new families because they don't have to come out to us since we come to them," she said. "Also, it's in their territory, so it's much more comfortable for them. If we come to them, then it's a little more inviting for the children."
That invitation was more than welcome to Melissa Villagomez and Gesseca Noeldner, military spouses who recently moved to Fort Rucker from Germany.
"We're excited about (this outreach) and that's why we're here," said Villagomez, who brought her children, Oliver and Elinana. "The children love firefighters and police officers, and I think they should learn about (them). I think it's a great opportunity for the children."
One of the key factors that the Fort Rucker DPS hopes to convey is that children shouldn't be afraid of first responders since they're there to help, said Contreras. The outreach is important to educate children in that regard, but Villagomez said her children have never had a problem with them.
"My children have never been afraid of them because I go up to (the first responders) with my children, and talk with them and ask if they can see the truck, so they've never been afraid," she said. "I think it's good that they get exposed to them and even get the chance to ask them questions."
Noeldner also said that it's important that her children understand that these are the people that they need to go to if they need help.
"I try to teach my children that if they get lost, they have to ask a police officer or a firefighter for help. They're really excited this time because they've never seen an American firefighter before," she said. "Because we're from Germany, everything looks totally different -- even the police cars are different (they're blue in Germany).
"They get excited because they get to see it all, and everything is totally different, so they have to get used to it," Noeldner said. "If they get lost over here, then everything would be new to them and they need to know who they should be able to ask for help."
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