By Monty Siekerman
The sheriff's office displayed equipment used but the Special Response Team at the Ada War Memorial Park on Monday morning as part of a week-long series devoted to emergency responses in Ada and Hardin County.

Here, Sheriff Deputy Christina Henderson shows a shield to Eliece, 4, (left), Garret, 1, and Chloe, 5, children of Mary and Matthew Richardson.

An armored  car sits in the background.

Criminals and terrorists beware. The armored vehicle can carry 8 people, fully-equipped for most any necessary response. Equipment and vehicles, along with emergency responders, will be on hand:
• Tuesday, EMT and ambulance
• Wednesday, park ranger, game warden, dog warden
• Thursday, DARE officers and 911 communications
• Friday, sheriff's mounted posse
• Life Flight may arrive one of those days.

This is all part of the Ada Police Department S.A.F.E.R. community outreach program and tied into ReStore Community Center lunches at the park.

ReStore offers free meals to kids at the park from noon until 1 p.m. Monday through Friday during the summer.

About 30-40 children attend during the week, but the number grows to 75-100 on Fridays because prizes are given away and water games are held in addition to the kids' favorite, pizza.

PHOTO BELOW

No, it's not Halloween, this could be very serious business. Here, Kaiden Silcox, 13, son of Mandy and John Silcox, dons some emergency equipment used by members of the sheriff's department: a gas mask, bulletproof vest, and battering ram to knock down doors.