NR Hide-and-Seek builds community

A crowd of 40 or so participants gathered outside New Richland City Hall prior to the scheduled 7 p.m. Oct. 30 start time for the game of “hide-and-seek” organized by city police officer Dale DeRaad and staffed by volunteers from New Richland and Waseca County law enforcement agencies.

 

City Mayor Janda Ferguson and Waseca Sheriff’s Posse members Victoria Genelin and David Hodgkins helped by checking participants in and providing them with identifying wrist bracelets, then supervising the area where everyone gathered over the next hour or more after being “found.”

 

The game had been announced more than a month in advance; the majority who signed up to take part were children and young adults, with a few parents accompanying their children. Most were dressed in dark colors; many had hoods, hats, or scarves to conceal their faces. A few had even brought “ghillie” suits; the vegetation-like covering of this camouflaged outerwear is meant to blur the outline of the human form while blending into the background. 

 

The “hiders” were given directions regarding the public areas where they could conceal themselves: these included the Legion ball field, the space along the railroad tracks between Aspen Avenue and Broadway, and the city park. The southern boundary was the waterway running east and west just north of Hwy. 30.

 

After about a 15-minute wait time, New Richland officers DeRaad and Joe Johnson and Waseca County Sheriff Deputies James Johannsen, Brayden Berg and Brandon Hermann set out with their flashlights having decided to follow a standard search grid and apply techniques which allowed them to use the event as a training exercise as well as a public relations opportunity.

 

It took more than an hour for the search to be complete. Commented DeRaad, “What I found to be most successful is how creative the children were in their hiding. Several of them surprised the seekers. We would find one person hiding, and another would make a noise right next to the seeker who had not even noticed the one next to them. The participants demonstrated their abilities to use minimal resources to hide very well in a multitude of different environments.”

 

DeRaad expressed particular satisfaction regarding the number of participants who chose to take part the evening of Oct. 30. He also commented on how much everyone seemed to enjoy the event: “From beginning to end the participating individuals' happy expressions and stated interest in doing this again next year was exactly what I hoped for. All the seekers really enjoyed this event and found it challenging and fun. Overall, I was glad we could meet and then exceed all expectations.

 

“The smiling faces and happy demeanors were a sight to behold.”

 

DeRaad said the positive interaction with area youth is highly beneficial since it allows young people to feel more comfortable about approaching and speaking with law enforcement personnel. It helps community members recognize, “we, as law enforcement, care about them and will listen to them.”

 

The hide-and-seek event joins an annual water balloon fight, the nation-wide “Night to Unite,” and community movie nights as times to mingle with law enforcement personnel in a lighthearted setting. DeRaad points out events improve when partnerships are formed with local retail businesses, philanthropic societies and agencies.

 

“Chief Bruegger and the other officers of the New Richland Police Department appreciate everyone who comes to these events. This includes those who help plan and set up the activities as well as those who lead and participate. It takes many helping hands to make these events happen.

 

“Having community members and those who come from other cities come here to enjoy these events means a lot to us and we are thankful for their support.”