Youngsville Borough Police Department hosted a bicycle rodeo on Saturday at Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department.

“We had a pretty good turnout with over 20 mainly local children participating,” Chief Todd Mineweaser said. “The kids learned bicycle safety, completed an obstacle course and the officers took them on a ride through town. The officers taught the kids the proper riding lanes, arm signals and proper riding gear.”

Andy Georgakis of Warren Cycle Shop was tuning up bikes and replacing an officer’s flat tire.

“The kids received certificates, eight helmets were raffled, two brand new bicycles, water bottles, safety fliers, handle grips and many other prizes were donated,” Mineweaser said. “Calvert-Pearson Insurance Group donated water and funds for several of the prizes, Great Lakes Insurance donated funds so we could provide a lunch for each participant and their families. Napoli’s donated pizzas for our raffle.”

Photo submitted to Times Observer A Youngsville Volunteer firefighter helps Kennedy Leach put out the fires at Puff the Dragon in the parking lot at Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department during the Youngsville Borough Police Department Bicycle Rodeo on Saturday.

Members of Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department also participated – senior members by cooking the hot dogs and younger firefighters helping kids use hoses to put out the fires at “Puff the Dragon.”

The rodeo wasn’t just an opportunity to help keep kids safe on their bikes.

It’s also a chance for police to interact with the community on a positive basis.

Mineweaser was joined by Youngsville Officer Ben Leach, Conewango Township Police Department Officer Charlie Andersen, and City of Warren Police Department Officer A.J. Foriska.

“We like to involve our youth in community events like this so they can understand at a young age that we are here to protect them,” Mineweaser said.

“That means teaching them how to ride a bike safely so they don’t get hurt. Why helmets are important to wear. We try to reassure what most parents have already instilled in them and at the same time building that trust with them early on.”

“They see four police officers, from three different agencies, with caring and trusting hearts that pick them up as soon as one of them falls over – which happened a few times,” Mineweaser said. “We had a few minor incidents but nothing serious.”

“The kids had a good time and so did the officers,” he said.