Police, Fire Open House May 11

The Manhattan Beach police and fire departments will hold their Annual Police & Fire Open House on Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the outside parking lot of the city's public safety facility at 420 15th St.

A community favorite, the open house showcases the services, equipment and people who provide public safety and emergency response in Manhattan Beach, said Stephanie Martin, public information officer for the city's police department.

Attendees will have the opportunity to watch demonstrations by firefighters and the crisis negotiation team’s robot demonstration and to see an extensive display of specialized equipment and public safety vehicles, including a fire truck, paramedic van, SWAT van, beach patrol Rhino (all-terrain vehicle), beach quadrunner, patrol car, traffic motorcycle, T-3 (electric stand-up vehicle), animal control rescue truck and the mobile command center, donated to the two departments by the Manhattan Beach Property Owner’s Association. 

Members of the Manhattan Beach police and fire departments, including the SWAT team, motor/traffic officers, parking/animal control, K-9 team, firefighters/paramedics, will be available. Additionally, volunteers that support Neighborhood Watch, Victim Assistance, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Explorers and the Volunteers in Policing program will be available to answer questions.

Tours of the police jail and fire station will be open throughout the day. 

The open house serves as recognition for Fire Service Day and National Police Week, May 12th through 18th, also known as Blue Ribbon Week. 

In addition, the 6th Annual Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony will take place beginning at 10 a.m. to remember three Manhattan Beach police officers who were killed in the line of duty: Officer Charles Frederick Grau (End of Watch: September 11, 1952), Officer Richard Timothy Giles (End of Watch: February 14, 1962) and Officer Martin Lane Ganz (End of Watch: December 27, 1993). The public is invited to join the ceremony.

All of these activities will take place in an outdoor parking lot accessible from Valley Drive between 13th and 15th streets.