Breaking Barriers : Ventura Police Department Throws a Party for 12,000 of Its Neighbors

Denise Schlapper had not even been there 15 minutes when her daughter had the cops toss her in the clink. Even better, it only cost her a buck.

Standing behind the bars of a small “jail” at the Ventura Police Department’s fourth annual Block Party on Saturday, the Ventura mother had just dropped off her other daughter, Denise, 13, who dressed as Felix the Cat for the day.

“I just walked in, dropped her off and got put in jail,” Schlapper said with a laugh while 8-year-old Siobhan hung around outside, grinning broadly.

The “jail” was just one of nearly 200 attractions at the block party, which drew about 12,000 people. There were ring toss games, a “dunk-a-cop” booth and a panoply of social service organizations and companies promoting their programs and products.

Children had their faces painted with glittery rainbows and adults browsed by booths occupied by American Express, FHP Healthcare and cellular phone companies.

Some folks sat down at other booths to have their blood pressure and blood sugar levels checked for free. Others sought information from the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging and other groups that were there to explain their services.

The most popular attractions were those shiny gadgets and trucks that help to save lives and protect county residents.

A constant line, for instance, was formed outside the sheriff’s helicopter, where for $2 a deputy snapped pictures of children sitting in the chopper wearing a headphone.

“People get to see what their money’s paying for,” said Deputy Larry Bull, a sheriff’s bomb technician standing beside a $120,000 robot used to handle explosives. “But the kids make it all worthwhile. They’re fascinated by it.”

Children flocked to an Army display where their eager fingers played with machine guns and mortar canons.

But the party had something for everyone, appealing to people of all ages.

“Last year, I enjoyed it so much, I wanted to come back,” said Johanna Byl, 67, of Ventura.

“I think it’s very educational for adults and children,” Byl said. She was particularly fascinated by information from the district attorney’s booth about a state program that could help reimburse her for a window broken by vandals. “I learn a lot here.”

And for the men and women of county law enforcement and public safety agencies, Saturday’s event was an opportunity to rub elbows with the people they serve.

“It kind of helps to break down the barriers between the police and the community,” said Santa Paula Police Officer Carlos Juarez, standing beside his police dog, Marlo. “It shows people that we’re human too.”

Throughout the day, the demonstrations of the animals’ training and expertise drew large crowds.

“The bad guys are almost ready,” said 4-year-old Matthew Tyson of Ventura as he waited for the German shepherds to run down suspects in a simulated chase. “And then the dogs are going to run after them. They do what people do.”

The well-trained animals dutifully remained at their partners’ sides, despite the distraction of hundreds of pats on the head from passersby. Most of the dogs are bilingual, understanding commands in both German and English, and in one case, Finnish.

The thousands of participants seemed to enjoy the casual, carnival-like atmosphere of the daylong event.

Ventura Boy Scout Richard Knicklebine, 12, spent part of his day watching people cross a rope bridge he and his troop had built. But he said he was able to sneak away and take part in other activities that the block party had to offer.

“This is all really cool,” he said. “I got lots of free stuff too.”