'...we're just people too.'
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the Othello Police Department partnered to host Saturday’s National Night Out event held at the Columbia Basin Health Association Othello Clinic.
GABRIEL DAVIS/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
A member of the community attempts to hit the dunk tank target to drop Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner into the water during National Night Out.
A Columbia Basin Health Association representative hands out backpacks with school supplies to members of the community outside of the Othello Clinic during the National Night Out event. CBHA planned on handing out 1000 backpacks throughout the evening.
OTHELLO – The Adams County Sheriff’s Department partnered with the Othello Police Department to host a National Night Out event Saturday evening at the Othello Columbia Basin Health Association Clinic.
Adams County Sheriff’s Office Administrative Assistant Sandra Gomez led the Sheriff’s Office’s coordination of the event.
“This is our first year here in Othello, so we’re super excited,” said Gomez. “We were anticipating at least 1300 people, but I hope it’s that and then more.”
Gomez said she wanted to do the National Night Out event after working for Adams County Integrated Health Care Services and participating in a program to prevent substance abuse in the community. She’s also started community outreach events and donations through the Sheriff’s Office.
“What better idea than to create this,” said Gomez. “That way everybody can mingle, get to know what our services are, and who else works at the offices, the Police Department and Sheriff’s Office. That way the community can build that relationship with law enforcement…get to know each officer and deputy.”
The event featured free food, drinks, waterslides, bounce houses, music, informational booths, giveaways, and even skydivers holding an American flag as they landed outside the clinic. Event attendees could also pay to dunk various law enforcement officials at the event, including Sheriff Dale Wagner and Othello Chief of Police David Rehaume.
Event attendee Reese Jones said the children’s activities and support for ACSO brought him to the National Night Out.
“We brought my niece and nephew. They wanted to do the bouncy houses, and get some food and some free stuff,” Jones said.
Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner elaborated on the motivation behind working with the Othello Police Department to put on the event.
“Just awareness of our law enforcement and what we do for the people and what they do for us,” Wagner said, “And that’s really what my goal is, is to have a community event that people can come and communicate with us on a level that they’re not used to and help them understand that we’re here to help them, and we’re just people too.”
Gomez said the community surprised her in how much support they provided for Saturday’s event, including the vendors providing food, activities, and supplies.
One such community participant was CBHA, who donated the space behind the Othello clinic for the event and were handing out 1000 backpacks with school supplies throughout the evening.
“We get to partner with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, all the great local police officers, EMT, fire department,” said CBHA Community Relations Coordinator Alex Bountharath. “This event is definitely great for the community to come out and meet all of our local law enforcement…and we’re hoping to do more in the future.”
Other sponsors and partners with the event included various local agencies and businesses, such as the Othello School District, Simplot, Leprekon Harvest Foods, the Othello Food Bank and more.
Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. Download the Columbia Basin Herald app on iOS and Android.
