Police interact with kids in positive and fun environment
By Amy Batista, Special Writer
FLORENCE — Florence Township police hosted their second annual bike rodeo for children Saturday.
The event drew more than 100 participants and took place in the rear parking lot of the Florence Township Municipal Complex.
”We started this event last year to permit and encourage positive interaction with the public, especially the kids,” Florence Township Police Chief Alvin Scully said. “Most contact with officers is usually negative, and this program allows the kids to see the officers in a fun, learning environment.”
The officers helped children through the bike course and encouraged them to practice safety measures, including wearing helmets, when riding their bikes. The officers enjoyed the interaction with the kids at the rodeo.
Rodeo activities included a bicycle-skills obstacle course, helmet giveaways and bike registrations. Children also got a chance to see a Cooper’s medical helicopter, the Burlington Sheriff’s Department DARE car and the Florence Township Police Department Special Investigations Unit truck on display.
Burlington County Bikes provided bike safety checks and food and drinks. The Florence Township Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 210 helped give gifts out to the children.
”We had a really good turnout today,” Chief Scully said. “It’s real popular.”
Police typically hold the event in May, which is National Bike Month, but couldn’t this year.
”Scheduling conflicts with other activities or officer availability forced us to go into June,” Chief Scully said.
The police chief said he would like to see more township children involved in the event in the future.
”We hope as years go by the event gets a little bigger and gets more of the township youth involved,” Chief Scully said, adding two council members and Mayor Craig Wilkie were in attendance at this year’s event.
”This is what it all is, giving back to the community,” council President Jerry Sandusky said. “The Police Department does an outstanding job. They give up their time to come out here.”
According to Chief Scully, 55 bikers registered their bikes, and 50 bike helmets were issued, sized and adjusted during the event.
Resident Natalie Houseworth, 12, said, “It’s fun. We come every year.”
The highlight of the event for Natalie was doing the figure eight on the obstacle course.
Resident Ouida Burke, who attended the event for the first time with her daughter, Tatianna Peart, 2, said, “It’s wonderful. I think it’s great.”
Tatianna also practiced her bike skills on the figure eight portion of the obstacle course.
Resident Kyle O’Connell, 8, had his bicycle inspected before riding the obstacle course.
His dad, Ken O’Connell, said, “It’s a great opportunity to take on the course and meet other kids on their bicycles. It’s a lot of fun.”
The event was perfectly timed with the advent of summer, according to resident Kerri Jacoby.
”I just think it’s a great event for families to come out in the community, especially this time of year with all the summer activities just starting and kids being on their bikes and enforcing safety,” Ms. Jacoby said.
Staff from Burlington County Bikes, of Willingboro, performed basic safety checks on the bikes and recommended their shop for those needing extensive repairs.
Art Elly, a bike mechanic with Burlington County Bikes, said, “We do this event as a community event. Every year, we do different townships.”
Mr. Elly noticed a lot of department store-bought bikes at the event and discovered one of the bikes had been assembled incorrectly.
Mr. Elly said, “I would recommend that if you are going to purchase something from a department store, bring it in for quality service to have a checkup. They just put the bike together and put it on the floor. As a consumer, you have no idea what you are looking for.”
According to Mr. Elly, it takes a lot of planning to put an event like the bike rodeo together.
”It is a good event for the community,” Mr. Elly said. “Everybody gets involved between the sheriff department, your township, your Fire Department, and they even had Cooper hospital here. That’s a lot of work joining all the community here.”

