CHARLESTON W.Va. — Local elementary and middle school aged students gathered at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center to hear positive messages and be introduced to local police, fire, military, and more on Tuesday.
The 3rd annual Powerama event is a positive and fun-fill experience for area kids hosted by the Charleston Police Department.
“This is an invitation for elementary and middle school aged kids to be introduced to police, fire, military,” Charleston Police Sergeant Doug Paxton said. “To show they can be who they want to be and they don’t have to be afraid of us, we are normal people. We want to give the message of don’t be a bully, stay off drugs and follow your dream.”
The event featured demonstrations from Charleston SWAT, K-9 unit, Charleston Fire Department, a rock climbing wall brought by military, and speakers such as Chris Massey, Kenny Davis, the DEA and even Batman.
“It’s been a great day,” one H.E. White Elementary School student said. “I like the police cars and SWAT. They have these really awesome shields and stuff. I also saw tasers on the side of those shields.”
Children also had a chance to walk on the Coliseum floor and see police cars, firetrucks, ambulances, military vehicles, police motorcycles, and even the Bat Mobile, Lightning McQueen and Mater as well as meet police officers, fireman, military personnel, Disney characters, Batman, The Power team, Smokey Bear, Massey, and Davis.
“Kids were very excited,” Paxton said. “They were screaming, yelling and shouting, getting really into it. We get a lot of cards each year, saying thank you and what they liked the best. It’s a lot of fun.
“I wanted to do something to reach as many kids as possible at one time. This event just popped into my mind and it has just built each year and gotten bigger and bigger. More people volunteer their time to help and their services. It just comes together and it’s turned out to be a great event.”
Children from nine counties in the area made the trek to the Coliseum as well as the event being open to the public. The total number of kids in the door for Powerama was nearly 4,000.