Meet Cleveland Heights Cops, Firefighters On August 6

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — The 6th Annual Cleveland Heights Safety Forces Night will give residents the chance to meet the police officers and firefighters that save lives in their city. Attendees can chat with the personnel, interact with select equipment and see the vehicles the units use.

The event will be held at the Cleveland Heights Community Center, 1 Monticello Boulevard, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6. Members of the Cleveland Heights S.W.A.T. team, bomb squad, K9 unit and bike unit will all be on-hand. There will also be a fire truck, ambulance and "fire house," for attendees to check out.

There will also be free hot dogs, soda, chips, water, sno-cones, and T-shirts (while supplies last). There will also be a balloon artist, caricature drawer, and a bicycle raffle. Residents can also bring their bicycles and get bike licenses for free.

"Many times people only have contact with the Police or Fire Departments when they are in crisis. However safety forces night out allows us all to interact under positive conditions. In addition, it is a great way to build a safer community," Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg told Patch. "We have fun events for the kids, food and snacks for everyone, and we provide information to help keep our residents safe. It is such a fun event and every year it continues to grow, with more and more residents attending. Officers from all our units will be on hand to answer any questions residents may have. "

Guests will have the chance to interact with some of the equipment safety forces use, get information on both the Cleveland Heights Police Academy and Citizens Police Academy, and pose any questions they want to ask.

"Safety Forces Night Out provides the opportunity for residents to come and learn more about the units that comprise their safety forces and gives them the opportunity to meet and talk with members of their safety forces in a more relaxed and comfortable environment," Mecklenburg said while admitting this is one of her favorite annual events.