MOUNT CARMEL - Borough police chief Todd Owens in a giant hamster ball?
It might happen Saturday at the second annual Mount Carmel Police Day.
The human-sized hamster balls are just one part of the festivities that will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mount Carmel Town Park, Market and Third streets.
This year's Police Day will bring back many popular activities, including the shredding truck where residents can bring documents with sensitive information to be destroyed.
Melissa Katch, one of the event planners, said 1,500 pounds of paper were collected last year.
"We're hoping for even better this year," she said.
Katch said fundraisers held throughout the year covered the cost of this and other activities, including the petting zoo and bounce slide, so festival-goers can participate for free.
Also returning this year are the State Farm Insurance's DUI simulator and Judge the Arson Dog, the Allentown Fire Department dog trained to determine where an accelerant-fueled fire began.
Pennsylvania State Police will be there with their horses, and Mount Carmel Borough police will have their vehicles on display.
Owens believes the greatest benefit of Police Days is the unguarded interaction between police and area residents.
"It gives folks from the community a chance to interact with us not in an official capacity," said Owens. "A lot of the younger kids, are afraid of the police. We're trying to convey a different image so the younger kids don't have to be afraid and people can put a face to a name."
This year's Police Day falls during National Police Week. A memorial service will be held to honor police officers at 2 p.m.
Traditional Coal Region food will be available, including halushki, pierogies, potato cakes and pigeons - as well as other fair food, like chicken fingers, traveling tacos and gyros.
Numerous other state, county and local groups and organizations will have booths at the event with information for the public. PennDOT, Smokey the Bear, the Red Cross, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board are just a few of the organizations expected to attend.
BILL 95 FM will broadcast live from 10 a.m. to noon and a DJ will provide music throughout the afternoon.
Although the weather forecast currently predicts sunshine, a rain date has been scheduled for Sunday.