GLADSTONE – Seniors and students were among those that attended the open house Tuesday at the Gladstone State Police Post.

Pam Haluska, center coordinator at the Hermansville Senior Citizen Center, brought a group from Hermansville.

“They are all excited,” she said. “They love the dog so far. They were surprised by all of the equipment over there and basically just very good information.”

The group talked with officers on the SWAT team about the equipment they use and watched a reconnaissance robot work.
Nearby, a group of students from the Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy in Menominee took turns on a driving simulator.

Lisa Bergstrom says it is good for the students to interact with the officers.

I think it is important for them to see how a community is built from a variety of different roles and people coming together,” Bergstrom said, “and I think it is also important for them to get to see and meet the police officers to understand how they are hear to help us and not something or someone to be afraid of.”

Spencer, a fourth grader from the school, enjoyed the simulator because it was similar to his video games.

“I crashed, that’s for sure,” he said with a laugh. “It’s like my favorite game, Traffic Slam 3.”

He also enjoyed playing in the antique police car. The ones in the front pretended to be police officers while the ones in the back were prisoners. Spencer sat in the front.

First Lt. Greg Cunningham, post commander, said they were expecting about 300 students from Delta and Menominee Counties to see the displays.

“It was an opportunity for the community to stop by and see the resources that the Michigan State Police have and it’s also a good time for our local school districts to have their students there on field trips to interact with the troopers on a more personal note,” Cunningham said.

Other displays included the crime lab, crash reconstruction and trooper motorcycle and vehicle equipment.