Public Safety Day, hosted by the Keweenaw County Sheriff's Office, is back this year, for its 10th year. (Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette)

KEWEENAW COUNTY — Public Safety is returning later this month, according to County Sheriff Curt Pennala. The event is scheduled for June 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mohawk Park.

“This year marks the 10th annual event, which is exciting for all of us involved,” Pennala said. “What started as a small community gathering has grown into something families look forward to each year.”

As in the past, there will be no shortage of kids activities, games and contests.

“We kind of center around children,” Pennala said. “It’s one of those things where we’ve always had a great relationship with our community. That’s something we don’t take for granted here, and we work very hard to keep it. So, this is, a little bit, more part of that, by bringing the community together, and everyone has fun for a day.”

Pennala said it has always been nice for the deputies to interact with the kids. It also makes the kids feel more comfortable seeing uniforms, whether the uniforms are those of deputies, fire fighters, paramedics, and other agencies.

Another aspect of focusing on children, Pennala said, is that they never know if they might inspire some little boy or girl to want to have a future in law enforcement, fire fighting, or as an EMF.

“Public Safety Day is really about building relationships with the community outside of emergency situations,” he said. “We want kids and families to feel comfortable approaching law enforcement, EMS, firefighters, and dispatchers, and this event gives people a chance to meet the people behind the uniforms.”

As with every Public Safety Day, there will be emergency vehicles on display, along with some from the Keweenaw County Road Commission.

Public Safety Day participants include:

Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Allouez TWP. First Responders, Ahmeek Fire Department Off-Road Rescue, as well as volunteer fire departments from Allouez Township, Copper Harbor, Eagle Harbor, Lac La Belle, and Sherman Township will be present with with trucks and equipment, and there will be a Jaws of Life demonstration, as well. The county Road Commission will have some of their big equipment on the grounds, as they have in the past, and Mercy EMS will have a vehicle present, too.

The annual event has grown every year since it started, Pennala said. Although the focus of Public Safety Day is toward children, more and more adults are in attendance.

“We’ve seen an increase in the number of kids and adults who’ve come out to visit us every year,” Pennala said. “It’s great to see. It’s a great event for the community at large to come out and meet the men and women who are really dedicated to keeping the community safe, whether that be the firefighters, law enforcement, paramedics and even our road crews.”