Saturday: Antioch Police to Host Family Friendly Halloween Event

The Antioch Police Department invites the community to join them for a free fun and safe Halloween event on Saturday.

The event is scheduled between 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Oct. 31 at the Antioch Police Community Room (300 L Street) and is aimed at youths 12-and-under. The first 500 kids will receive a goodie bag filled with toys, candy, stickers and police baseball cards.

According to Sergeant Mike Mortimer, the police department wanted to connect with the youth and families of Antioch to get to know them in a different setting as opposed on the streets.

“We are looking to give kids in the community a chance to have a safe environment on Halloween and meet our personnel while learning about the things we do,” explained Mortimer. ”We are going to have officers from our SWAT and tactical team on hand volunteering their time and kids can take photographs. Vests will also be on display with rescue vehicles for photographs as well as one of our K9 will be out there.”

Mortimer highlights this event is all about the kids.

“It’s real important to meet kids and interact with them,” said Mortimer. “I want them to look at us as help and not be afraid. I also want them to have the same experience I had with police growing up where I waved and said hello. I am hoping this creates a good experience for the entire family.”

The event idea was brought up in December of 2014, however, it was recently approved and they have been planning this event for about a month. This is the first year police are hosting this Halloween event and hope to expand it more next year.

If you attend, police are asking for no inappropriate costumes be worn as well as no replica firearms or weapons (that look realistic) be brought to the event.

“This event is well timed so you can come hang out with police and then still go out to trick-or-treat with friends and family,” said Mortimer.