Dozens of area children spent Saturday afternoon with Cincinnati police officers and firemen, trying on police equipment and getting sprayed with water from a fire truck.

        The activities were part of a CommUNITY-Police Outreach festival at Hoffner Park in Northside. The free event, which ran 1-5 p.m., was sponsored by the Cincinnati Human Resources Commission.

        It was part of a series of festivals that give communities a chance to interact with neighborhood police. Previous festivals have drawn crowds of 250-800 people.

        “I think the community has embraced it,” said Carol-Ann Coleman, the commission's public relations coordinator. “It really diffuses some of the lingering hostilities (since the April 2001 riots).”The afternoon's events included police-unit demonstrations as well as Hula Hoop contests, music and food.

        “A lot of people always hear about the SWAT team, but they have no idea what we do,” said Officer Ron Hale, before helping some young boys put on the SWAT team's gear. “This gives everyone a chance to see the equipment.”

        For some, such as Ron Caulton and his daughter Diamond Joi, it was a chance to interact with their community.

        “My favorite part was looking at the (police) horse because I like horses,” said the 5-year-old girl from Golf Manor.

        The idea for the festivals stemmed from community study circles that have been held since last year. The circles give diverse groups of people a chance to talk about and try to reach an understanding on various public issues.

        Similar festivals have been held in Over-the-Rhine, Bond Hill, Millvale and Kennedy Heights. The last outreach festival of the summer will be 1-5 p.m. Aug. 25 at Laurel Park in the West End.

        “We view it as a major de-stressor,” said Lesley Jones, the commission's program coordinator. “It's a way for people to relieve some of their stresses and anxiety about the police force.”

        It also served as an educational opportunity for parents, such as Latoya Crawford, a 26-year-old mother who brought her six children 1/2ndash 3/4 ages 10 years to 2 months 1/2ndash 3/4 to the festival.

        “The children get to see what kind of activities are out there in the their community, so they know there is something out there for them,” the Northside woman said.

Burglars move to suburbs
Missing girl's picture found with porn ring suspect
Erpenbeck cash buyers sue
More schools adopt program for improving test scores
PULFER: Millions stolen; Why isn't case closed?
BRONSON: Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?'
Springsteen fans dismiss festival concerns
Hit-skip suspect followed, attacked
Kids, parents hang out with cops
Local Digest
Officer, suspect take head-first falls
Boys sought for apartment fire
Congrats
Good News: Students learn value of teamwork
Officer, suspect killed in shootout
Suspect eludes police
Warren County plans 3 veteran memorials
Seafood Festival winds up today
2 killed when car hits trees
Kids get free school supplies
Asbestos delays school
Historic mansion faces wrecking ball
Ky. Guardsmen in crash ID'd
Sex abuse allegations unsealed