Viewfinder: Clawson Police Host Summer Safety Workshop

On Tuesday,  officers presented an all-day Summer Safety Workshop Assembly at .

The assembly promoted easy-to-understand concepts of safety through three workshops (two in the gymnasium and one in the hallway) where groups of students rotated to learn and participate in each one.

The first workshop was about bicycle safety. Led by Detective Jody Horne, students learned about operating a bicycle safely around town, crossing streets, wearing a helmet and other precautions.

"We'd rather have the young kids on sidewalks," Horne said. "More than anything, we want kids to wear helmets."

Horne also said he had to field a few amusing question as students pointed out and asked about equipment on the detective's belt.

"One asked about my 'peppermint spray'," Horne said, referring to a student's question concerning his standard-issue pepper spray.

School liaison officer Kellie Bauss led the second workshop. Bauss, in her second year as the liaison officer to Clawson Schools, explained ideas of personal safety to groups of students. Bauss said different age groups were given slightly different lessons, such as younger kids learning how and when it's appropriate to dial 9-1-1 and making them aware of "stranger danger" or precautions when home alone for older kids.

The final workshop offered fingerprinting for every student by Detective Lt. Scott Sarvello. After each student had a quick look at how fingerprints are taken, Sarvello gave them a personal record with their prints on it and a series of questions that help identify the student. If something were to ever happen to that student, there would be a comprehensive and concise record available immediately to police.

"I think it went really well," Sarvello said of the assembly. He said the officers were able to present to the whole school and hopes the police department can offer this free service again next year.