Sun, 10/06/2024 - 10:04

Sarah Thompson

Deputy Chief Alex Gaylor and a young ball roller both wipe their eyes after a big splash. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Look at the water rise up, and over! (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Deputy Chief Alex Gaylor and a young ball roller both wipe their eyes after a big splash. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Look at the water rise up, and over! (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

ROCKLAND — 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, as Rockland PD watched the skies and the weather radar, Pen Bay Christian School was watching the growing crowd that arrived half an hour early for the school’s Touch-A-Truck fundraiser at Harbor Park.

Following a drenching morning rainstorm, clouds cleared by the 11 a.m. start of the three-hour events for both the fundraiser and the Tuck and Roll-sponsored opportunity to hang out with Rockland police officers.

A steady stream of children climbed high to sit in drivers’ seats of the Touch-A-Truck event while their parents snapped pictures. The bigger kids found the horns on every vehicle while the younger ones simply marvel at being up so high.

Ending the police event at Buoy Park with a dunk tank, Deputy Chief Alex Gaylor stayed wet as multiple children (and an adult or two) threw a ball at a lever that dropped him into a pool of water. For those throwing attempts that weren’t successful by soft ball or basketball, the kids were allowed to press the lever, a risk in itself since it meant getting close enough to get splashed as well.

Now in its second year, though a first at Harbor Park, the Touch-A-Truck fundraiser is put on by the school parent board and generates money for field trips, lunches, and special learning programs.

Next door, the police introduced their new puppy K9 in training, Freya. They talked about their bicycles, their electric bike, and opened the doors of a cruiser, while offering an arts and crafts table.

Overall, said Chief Tim Carroll, “we want to show people that we are here.”