Patterson police plan Community Fun Day

Police Chief Patrick LaSalle announced Monday that his department will begin what he hopes is an annual event bringing the community together with his officers and providing health information and family activities in a Community Fun Day on July 26.
“We want to reach families, especially the young people, and proactively work to keep people from making the wrong choices,” LaSalle said. “We are public servants and it is our responsibility to provide the services that our citizens need. We have got to get back into the community and make the police available to the public.”
The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hattie Watts ballpark with food, music, games, horse and buggy riding, sack races, and train rides and all the activities will be free.
LaSalle assigned Patterson police officer Julia May Sterling to work out the details of the event. Community businesses have been generous in their assistance and donations, she said.
“We will have hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, popcorn and snowballs, all for free, starting about noon,” Sterling said. “This will be a day of fun and education. We hope the grownups will stay and not just drop off the kids because there will be plenty to do as a family and a lot of good information to be gathered.”
The St. Mary Treatment Center and Teche Action Clinic will be there to disseminate information along with Bayou Vista dentist Dr. Charles Broussard who will give away dental supplies and information, she said.
Jeremy Benoit, a jazz player from Lafayette, will perform Saturday morning and local musical entertainment will follow throughout the day, Sterling promised.
Toward the conclusion of the event, a drawing will be held for a vanity table donated by Grizzaffi Furniture in Morgan City, Sterling said.
Sterling is pleased with the support she has gotten from businesses in donating both money and supplies and she is still adding names to the list of those who are part of the effort. Anyone who wants to contribute can call the Patterson Police Department at 985-395-6161 and ask to speak with her or with officer Garret Grogan.
If the weather does not cooperate, the event will be rescheduled, LaSalle said.