Graeagle’s Herb Rowe Park was alive with family fun and animated conversation Aug. 9 at the annual Plumas-Sierra County Law Enforcement Fair. Under a warm Saturday sun, kids enjoyed a bounce house and a climbing wall, among many other activities, while officials from five law enforcement agencies provided information about the vital services they provide. Plumas County Sheriff’s Office employees offered a free hot dog lunch to all attendees.
Organized by PSCO, other agencies included the California Highway Patrol, U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement, CalFire, and the California State Parks system. Two other agencies, the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, were unable to attend due to last-minute obligations – a homicide investigation and wolf management activities respectively, according to PCSO Public Information Officer Chandler Peay.
Peay said this year’s three-hour event was the fourth annual. “We love to have everybody come out!” he said. The sheriff’s association sponsored shaved ice through Carey Candy this year. By 12:30 p.m. it had served over 150 lunches and expected to serve 250, Peay said.
The vehicles and equipment on display piqued the interest of kids and adults alike, especially PCSO’s Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle. The MRAP was designed for the military and can assist with tactical responses to safely transport deputies during high-risk incidents, including high-water rescues, evacuations, and operations in rugged terrain. The vehicle was donated to Plumas County at no cost, Peay said. If it ever has mechanical issues, it can be returned to the military at no cost, he added.
Surveying the scene in the park, Quincy CHP Commander Lt. Ryan Pedersen said he sees this event as a great opportunity for building relationships among law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. “All law enforcement agencies want to reach out and interact with our communities, individually, but en masse as well. It’s a wonderful thing to be in law enforcement again, and this is representative of that,” Pedersen said.
Tanner McKay, dispatcher II and communications training officer;
Patrol Sgt. Jake Vickery.
He has experienced the tensions that can arise among law enforcement agencies and their communities, but he sees improvement. “It’s been hard to do sometimes during my career, and these are the times when we get to meet people who actually want to see us and shake our hands. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us as well as for other people to get to know us. We’re super thankful to be involved and invited. It’s an opportunity to interact with law enforcement where it’s not always so darn negative,” said Pedersen.
