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Photos: Sheriff’s open house provides fun and learning for kids of all ages

Bryan Lashuk, 8, Logan Perotti, 8, and Aaron Keeley, 4 aboard the Suffolk County Sheriff Department's Marine 1 at the annual Open House and Family Day. Photo: Katharine Schroeder

Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco hosted the annual Sheriff’s Open House and Family Day Sunday at the correctional facility in Riverhead.

“This is a time when our residents have the opportunity to learn more about the dedicated and professional work of deputies, corrections officers and civilian employees in the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, tour our Correctional Facility and show support for law enforcement,”  DeMarco said in a statement.

The event featured safety demonstrations, tours, K-9 demonstrations and a special surprise of dozens of  homemade cupcakes donated by Connetquot High School students.

One of the most popular attractions was the “drunk buggy” raceway set up in the parking lot. Children raced around the track in small vehicles which are normally used for training high school students about how alcohol consumption affects driving ability.  According to Deputy Sheriff Dennis Creter, the department visits secondary schools across Long Island to educate students about the dangers of drinking and driving. At the demonstrations students wear special goggles that simulate what it’s like to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

“But today we’re just using the buggies for fun,” added Creter. “No drunken goggles for the kids today.”

SoutholdLOCAL photos by Katharine Schroeder

 

 

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Katharine is a writer and photographer who has lived on the North Fork for nearly 40 years, except for three-plus years in Hong Kong a decade ago, working for the actor Jackie Chan. She lives in Cutchogue. Email Katharine