Earlier this month, the West Bradenton Crime Watch and the Police Department of Bradenton received the ‘Operation Cooperation Award’ at the Summer Training Conference of the Florida Police Chiefs Association.
The award, which was handed over in Boca Raton, was given to Michael Radzilowski and Tami Spyker for the work they did at last year’s Safe Kids Fair. This was held in October 2013 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Bradenton and was designed to educate parents and children about safety in the home, in pools, at the beach and on bicycles.
Families were provided with child identification kits by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and the Bradenton Police Department displayed its Bayflite helicopter and S.W.A.T. Armored Rescue Vehicle. There were also crafts, painting, and other activities, as well as food and drinks and raffle prizes.
There were over 350 kids and about 150 families that attended last year’s fair, which was free and open to children of all ages. A grant from the University of Florida provided for free bicycle helmets and fittings from those certified to do so.
The award recognizes the some of the best ways in which police groups and private organizations have come together to serve their community. Most likely, the two organizations are using poster printing to inform the community of this special distinction and how it affects locals.
