Every August, Riverton hosts Public Safety Night, aimed at strengthening ties between the community and the city’s first responders. Hosted at Riverton City Park, this year’s event on Aug. 7 featured interactive demonstrations, safety workshops and educational booths designed to promote public safety awareness. 

The evening also provided an opportunity for residents to connect with police officers, firefighters and other emergency responders to gain an appreciation of public safety and the importance of collaboration between
departments. 

Unified Fire Authority Battalion Chief Wade Watkins works with Riverton to ensure UFA meets the city’s needs for emergency response services. Public Safety Night is a highlight for Watkins as he gets to know residents and has time to
answer questions. 

“This year, we did a high-angle rope rescue scenario in front of the citizens that attended that night so that they could see some of the capability we have,” he said. “Unified Fire Authority has a heavy rescue team and a hazardous materials team, along with having a ladder truck, fire engine and all the different stuff that serves the community. One of the benefits of Public Safety Night is we get to display a lot of
that equipment.”

Watkins also arranged to have a helicopter team from Life Flight attend the event. Residents were able to talk to the team as well as get an up-close look at the inside of
the aircraft.

“[The Life Flight team] were super gracious,” Watkins said. “I wasn’t surprised that they stayed so long, but I was surprised they let a lot of the public touch things and get inside the helicopter.”

Other highlights at the event included a fire hose demonstration, mock vehicle extraction, a SWAT display, emergency services vehicles, a drunk goggles activity, the Riverton City emergency preparedness booth, police motorcycles and vehicles, an animal control information booth and free snow cones, popcorn and cotton candy. 

Riverton City Police Chief Shane Taylor said the event allows the police department to connect with residents and other emergency responders, highlighting partnerships that benefit the community. RPD officers took photos of attendees sitting in police cars and straddling Harley-Davidson police motorcycles. 

Taylor said Public Safety Night helps build trust and understanding by creating relationships between public safety departments and the community.

“It’s just basically a fun interaction time with the community. It’s very informal. They can ask questions, and we just can work together,” Taylor said. “It’s just a great event in sharing both sides, UFA with Chief Watkins and what we have here at the Riverton Police Department. I think it’s very helpful
and beneficial.” λ