Community Connections Event Helps Police and Fire, Serve Public

BEATRICE – Downtown Beatrice was the site of the annual Community Connections event Wednesday night, where people can mingle with police and fire officials, while at the same time, providing information that helps them do their jobs.

Chief of Police Bruce Lang says the event serves a dual purpose…bringing people in the community together for some fun, but also providing important information that can aid when police and fire answer an emergency call.

“This is for any medical condition you may have, or any special condition or circumstance in your home that you may want an emergency responder to know about”.

Beatrice High School football players, cheerleaders and dance team members, as well as students from Diller-Odell, Southern and Freeman were invited to participate in the Community Connections night on 5^th Street. 

Lang said, “We dispatch for all of Gage County, so we want to collect information from all of Gage County…..and one of the ways to do that, is to bring participants in from all around the area”.

Elementary students were eligible for a free hot dog and bag of popcorn and several organizations had tables with displays at the event.  Police and Fire officers were walking the street, mingling with those attending.

Lang says the database of information helpful to police and fire departments is growing steadily, and residents can submit such information at any time. He says the city takes steps to make sure the information remains confidential.

“That’s not public record, it will not be released to anybody”.   Lang said the information can be given to police any time during the year.

Two members of the Beatrice Police Department had a table at the event where people could fill out a form to let emergency personnel know about any special needs in their family.

Beatrice Special Olympics athletes were introduced to the crowd and gathered with BHS athletes, cheerleaders and dance team members for a group photo.