Behind the Badge
Deputy Aron Grumbles of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department has been into reptiles and dinosaurs his entire life.
In fact, before he became a deputy in 2007, Grumbles owned Safari Exotics, which staged educational programs about reptiles at schools, birthday parties – you name it.
OCSD Dep. Aron Grumbles holds a red-tailed boa constrictor during his reptiles presentation.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
When Grumbles recently transferred to Mission Viejo Police Services as its newest school resource officer (SRO), his new boss, Lt. Quyen Vuong, came up with a great way to introduce Grumbles to the community – and for the community to get to know their local deputies better.
On Saturday, Aug. 24, Grumbles — assisted by his wife and two sons – enthralled more than 1,000 people with a hands-on demonstration starring about a dozen of the 40 creatures that live in a room in their home (except a tortoise, which roams the backyard).
OCSD Dep. Aron Grumbles holds up a veiled chameleon.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
After the “Reptiles and Ice Cream” event, held at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, guests were treated to ice cream – an appropriately cold treat after time spent with cold-blooded creatures.
“Reptiles and Ice Cream is a more hip version of Coffee with a Cop,” said Vuong. “When we engage with our community, our goal is to reach every demographic reflected.
OCSD Dep. Aron Grumbles helps his son, Gauge, as they show an African pixie frog.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“Some parents and kids may not like coffee, but everyone loves ice cream.”
Heather Malk and her husband, Manny, and 6-year-old son, Joshua, had a great time at Reptiles and Ice Cream.
OCSD Dep. Aron Grumbles holds up a veiled chameleon.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
They were able to get up close and personal with such creatures as a 17-foot reticulated python, geckos, a chameleon, and a 90-pound tortoise.
“It was a great way to get out and see all the different animals,” Healther Malk said. “He (Joshua) especially liked the tortoise.
OCSD Dep. Aron Grumbles talks to kids and adults gathered around the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center in Mission Viejo on Saturday, Aug. 24.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“It was really nice to be able to interact with the explorers and deputies and for the children to see them not as scary police officers,” she added.
Plus, Malk said, Joshua thoroughly enjoyed his two servings of ice cream.
OCSD Dep. Brittany Douglass looks forward as a 17-foot, 120-pound reticulated python is brought in behind her as kids and adults watch in amazement.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Vuong said the event was one of his agency’s most successful community engagement activities yet.
“We’re always striving to find new and fun ways to connect with our community,” Vuong said. “And we want (the community) to see that there’s more to us that strictly the enforcement of laws.
OCSD Dep. Brittany Douglass tries to stay calm as Dep. Aron Grumbles, left, and Dep. William Griffin place the python around her during the Reptiles and Ice Cream community event in Mission Viejo.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“Community policing is at its finest when everyone shares the same goal of enhancing public safety.”
Grumbles and his family – wife Ashley, and sons Rhett, 9, and Gauge, 7 — host reptilian education experiences for free, at venues ranging from churches to dojos, when the deputy is not working.
OCSD Dep. Aron Grumbles holds a frog in his hands as kids and adults gather around to get a good look at the various reptiles he brought out for his talk.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
As was the case Saturday, Aug. 23, the most popular reptile in Grumbles’ menagerie turned out to be Tigger, the 17-foot python who weighs 120 pounds.
“She’s very docile,” Grumbles notes.
Kids’ hands shoot up after OCSD Dep. Aron Grumbles asks for volunteers to help him show the various reptiles.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Part of the reason for showing his reptiles is so people can get over their fear of them, Grumbles says.
But it’s also about educating people what they’re getting into if they consider, say, buying a python. Grumbles says many python owners want to give them away when they grow beyond 10 feet.
OCSD Dep. Aron Grumbles shows a ball python.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
One of the reasons he shut down Safari Exotics was he took in so many rescue reptiles he couldn’t afford to keep them all. He donated many to the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Ana and visits them to this day.
Grumbles says his sons love all the reptiles, but his wife of 15 years, a former sergeant in the Marine Corps, “tolerates” them. He says having them around has made for a fun family dynamic.
A crested gecko climes on the back of OCSD Dep. Aron Grumbles.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“And especially since becoming an amputee in 2015 (due to an off-duty motorcycle accident), serving others has really helped me heal, and it’s been a privilege to do things like this,” Grumbles adds.
OCSD Explorer Izhar Roda gives families a chance to get up close and touch a ball python after the reptile show.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
OCSD Explorer Izhar Roda gives families a chance to get up close and touch a ball python.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Sherman, an 8-year-old, 120-pound, American Sulcata tortoise, eats some romaine lettuce as kids watch.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Lily Griffin, daughter of OCSD Dep. William Griffin, gets up close as Sherman the tortoise eats some romaine lettuce.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
OCSD Dep. Aron Grumbles holds a leopard gecko.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
OCSD Dep. Aron Grumbles lets kids and adults touch a hog nose snake during the Reptiles and Ice Cream community gathering.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Two-year-old Austin Sobhi of Mission Viejo enjoys his free chocolate and vanilla ice cream.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Kids and adults line up for free ice cream after the reptile show.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Three-year-old Soraya Maghzi of Mission Viejo takes a bite of her ice cream-dipped Oreo cooke at the OCSD Reptiles and Ice Cream community event.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
