New Richland hide and seek is practical fun

A crowd of around 40 children and about 10 adults gathered outside New Richland City Hall the evening of Friday, Oct. 30 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.

 

Waseca Sheriff’s Posse members also helped, including ShaLee White and Bailey and Tracy Hodgkins who were supervising outside before the children were released to find their hiding spots. While waiting, participants were shown a map to help be sure they would choose hiding places which were actually part of the area designated for the event. DeRaad warned, “If you guys hide outside the border, we aren’t going to be looking for you there.” 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.

 

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. Some kids were dressed as ghosts or goblins.

 

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.

 

After all the children had been found, the New Richland Police Department supplied food and beverages for a pizza party inside City Hall.