Behind the Badge
A steady stream of curious onlookers and supporters of the Tustin Police Department visited the department’s booth at the SoCal Kids Fair on Saturday, June 18.
The department had an information booth at the fair, which was held at the District at Tustin Legacy. Tustin Police Department representatives passed out junior police officer stickers and coloring books encouraging children to wear their seat belts. Far more interesting for many was the parked Tustin Police patrol car with its lights flashing and Police Services Officer Zhanna Patterson of the Community Relations Unit posing for pictures.
Tustin Police Services Officer Zhanna Patterson hands a police badge sticker to Luca Le, 3, who is holding his dad’s hand, Don Le of Lawndale, during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
In between lines of families taking quick snapshots, Patterson reminded families how being in the front of the car was OK. But the back? “The back seat is for bad guys,” she said with a smile.
Patterson noted that Tustin police officers, like officers everywhere, are tasked with interacting with people who are often having their worst day. But that’s certainly not the case at the SoCal Kids Fair. “I love connecting with the community,” Patterson said. “It’s one of the biggest reasons why I went into community relations.”
A line forms as Tustin Police Services Officer Zhanna Patterson gives people and their kids a chance to sit in a police patrol car at the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Department volunteer Wendy Meyers of Tustin echoed Patterson’s sentiment. By Saturday afternoon, she had given out hundreds of junior officer stickers and a host of coloring books. “This is about giving back to the community I live in,” she said.
Police Officer Tyler Wackerman stopped by the booth and talked with people passing by and answering questions about his job and the squad car, which was pulling a full day of service.
“Whenever we have special events like this, we like to come down,” he added. “It’s good to give back to the community. It’s also nice to have a presence. In addition to looking for bad guys, we all want to interact with the community in a positive manner. We’re here giving out stickers and saying hi.”
Rosalva Valdez, right, smiles as she gets her turn to sit in a Tustin Police Department patrol car with the help of Tustin Police Services Officer Zhanna Patterson during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin residents Chi Cox and her son, Waylon, 5, stopped by the Tustin police booth.
Waylon asked Wackerman about his favorite piece of police equipment. The officer said his favorite is his radio, which is his most important tool for communicating with colleagues so they can find correct locations and give each other assistance.
The 5-year-old said he may want to become an officer someday. Wearing a Darth Vader costume, he was already under way with the enforcement role of the job.
“That’s awesome, buddy,” Wackerman said. “I wanted to be one when I was little, too.”
Tustin Police Services Officer Zhanna Patterson gives tours to the public of a police patrol car during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy as Officer Tyler Wackerman, left, watches.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Dancers from the Gary Ferrer Dance Studio in San Bernardino perform on stage during the SoCal Kids Fair in The District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Dancers from the Gary Ferrer Dance Studio in San Bernardino perform on stage during the SoCal Kids Fair in The District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Dancers from the Gary Ferrer Dance Studio in San Bernardino perform on stage during the SoCal Kids Fair in The District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Three-year-old Milori Diaz crawls through an inflatable tunnel sponsored by Planet Fitness during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
A crowd gathers as kids pit two robot cars against each other during a friendly educational competition for the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Three-year-old Reina Pasupuleti of Irvine smiles as she gets a rainbow painted on her face during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Allysson Díaz, 8, moves through an inflatable tunnel during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Melany Parrillo, 8, Santa Ana, smiles as she gets her photo taken with a mermaid at the Mermaid Transformations booth, a business on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Four-year-old Sophia Carre of Laguna Hills looks at her new fins at the Mermaid Transformations booth, a business on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
A crowd gathers as Santiago Cheer girls from Santiago Charter Middle School perform on stage during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Santiago Cheer girls from Santiago Charter Middle School perform on stage during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Seven-year-old Lina Mendoza of Tustin spins the Hoag Hospital wheel for a prize during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Seven-year-old Aidan Nagao of Whittier does a dance inside the rope lope of Captain Tall Tale during the SoCal Kids Fair in the District at Tustin Legacy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
