MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. — Police officers across Muskegon County spent their day bowling with kids in the community, aiming to show a different side of law enforcement.
“We do Bowling with the Blue and usually it’s over Christmas break, they'll come in and we let all the kids and the adults bowl for free as well as all the officers, families and friends,” said Sherman Bowling Center General Manager Thomas VanderWel.
On Thursday, Sherman Bowling Center was filled with officers from Norton Shores, Roosevelt Park and Muskegon police departments for their third annual "Bowling with the Blue" event.
“So, I have my bowling shoes on now, and this has been super fun you know, I did pretty good,” said Muskegon Police Officer Gabrielle Yadlosky. "I had two 4-year-olds and a 5-year-old on my team. They were amazing. They almost beat me, but I held out.”
The bowling alley reserved 20 lanes for over 75 kids and parents who came out to take part in the event, which brings the community and law enforcement together.
Several officers helped kids with learning how to bowl, while some put on bowling shoes themselves and participated.
“So it's important for us to get out in the community and to interact with the kids and their families and getting out of the school is always nice,” said Norton Shores Police Officer Payton Haney. "The kids get to see me in a different light.”
VanderWel said the event shows law enforcement’s commitment to the community.
“It's good that they do good for the community, taking the time out for themselves to come and bowl with the kids and bowl,” VanderWel said. "They get to interact with the kids you know, just make sure that when they do the bowling the kids know that the officers do their duty to make sure everybody's safe.”
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