VISTA — The Vista Sheriff’s Department, from its bomb squad to the K-9 patrol, turned out in force to St. Francis Church on April 5. They didn’t come to respond to a call, but to participate in the community Safety Fair.

“It’s kind of like our big dog and pony show,” Crime Prevention Specialist Kristina Nehls said.

“We wanted to reach out to the community and this was just another way to do it. This has been a collaborative effort between us and the church ... turnout’s been great, hundreds and hundreds of people,” Capt. Ed Prendergast said.

It was indeed an impressive turnout — the west parking lot at the church was packed with people, mainly children, who excitedly traveled from one exhibit to the next. Many gave their programs to the deputies and asked for their autographs.

“We’re all very humbled by that ... It’s just kind of surprising to us,” Prendergast said.

“It’s great to meet these kids at this age. This is where we’re going to have most of our impact,” Lt. Scott Rossall said.

Young attendee Pablo Villegas was most interested in the SWAT team’s display.

“They’re good. I want to be one when I grow up,” Pablo said.

The K-9 display was also a popular attraction. Several times throughout the day, an officer would put on a heavily padded glove and bravely demonstrate to the audience what it looks like when one of their dogs clamps its teeth on someone.

“There’s just something about that (bite). People find it very exciting,” Nehls said.

The arson/bomb squad brought out an impressive array of confiscated explosives, some homemade, others professional grade.

“(These are) just a few things that we found. We get a lot more,” Officer Ronny Cox said.

Among the explosives was a collection of antique devices including World War II vintage Danish and Japanese hand grenades.

“We have a museum where we work … where we have all these ordnances,” Cox said. “It’s taken years to collect (them all).”

The bomb squad’s little orange robot with the tractor-treads stole the show. One after another, children tried to shake hands with the robot’s bomb extractor clamp.

“Kids always love it,” Officer John Rutledge said. The completely manual vehicle is always equipped with the latest video transmission and chemical-sniffing hardware.

“It’s just like buying a car or computer. You buy it one day and it’s outdated already. They’re always coming up with new stuff,” Rutledge said.

Most of the attendees made the hike to a nearby field to see one of the department’s seven patrol helicopters — the aircraft Vista residents often find determinedly circling overhead at odd hours.

“Usually they’re looking for somebody,” Prendergast explained. “It could be someone who walked from a home or something, (perhaps) an Alzheimer’s patient, or it could be something much more serious.”

Well before the end of the event, the Sheriff’s Department knew it had accomplished its goal of bonding with the community.

“I think that the word (is getting) out that we’re part of the community, that we’re trying to build better relationships with the community, and that we’re ‘their’ police department,” Prendergast said.

“We’re being able to be humanized. (We’re) not just a gun and a badge,” Sgt. Scott Black said.