MANSFIELD — Dozens of children participated in the 9th annual Bike-A-Palooza hosted by the Mansfield Police Department at North Lake Park Saturday.
The event offered a free bicycle helmet to each child who registered and raffled off 18 new bikes to kids in attendance.
Bike-A-Palooza activities included fire truck and SWAT team truck tours, a biking “safety rodeo” course and bike rides with patrol officers. Officer Jake Rietschlin also introduced K-9 Mekel for an apprehension demonstration.
Mikel is a 7-year-old German Shepherd from the Czech Republic.
Community partners that made the event possible include the City of Mansfield Parks & Recreation Dept., Mansfield City Council, Police Athletic League (PAL), Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #32, Lexington Moose 2511, The Ohio State Reformatory Historical Museum, Warren Rupp Inc., Kokosing, Mansfield Fire Department, Der Dutchman, Metal Conversions, Jacobs Excavating, MANCI 7010, Haring Realty, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), The Richland Area Chamber and United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
