Fun and games night – News Bulletin

CRESTVIEW — Serving as a Crestview Police officer isn’t always fun and games, but for nearly 20 cops, Thursday evening’s games night for special needs teens and adults was an opportunity for officers to share some enjoyable quality time with residents who, as one officer said, “often get overlooked.”

The police’s Community Services Division hosted the event, welcoming more than 25 developmentally or physically challenged guests and their caregivers from several local social services to Warriors Hall.

“These are some of our citizens that fall through the crack and are forgotten,” Officer Wanda Hulion, who organized the games night, said. “But they do matter to us. Every time I have the opportunity to visit with the different (special needs) groups around Crestview, I always leave with a smile. I always say I am going there to help them and instead, they help me have a better day.”

The visitors enjoyed tabletop games including dominoes, Uno, checkers and card matching games, while nearby, an indoor bocce court was marked off and games of cornhole and Toss Across evoked cheers and laughter.

“This is so nice of y’all to do this for us,” an aide from Heroes Express said as she deftly dodged a wayward cornhole beanbag.

“Once a special needs individual graduates from school," Hulion said, "there are not a lot of opportunities for them. I was asked if we could put together an event that would put officers in contact with these citizens, to help them feel more comfortable if they ever had a need for law enforcement.”

Officers had as much fun as their guests—well, mostly.

“You got me, buddy,” said Investigator Josh Burgess, laughing as his opponent jumped his last checker. “That was a good game,” he said, shaking hands with his victor.

“He’s already got me beat,” Interim Chief Jamie Grant said as another guest laid down a superior hand during their rummy game.

At another table, Officer Chris Roll fared better. As he laid down his last card to win a game of Uno, his fellow players gave him a cheer and one leaned across the table to slap him a high-five.

Officers from every division volunteered for the event, including patrol officers — who attended before or after their shifts — K9, Investigations and several members of the S.W.A.T. team who arrived following a daylong training exercise.

The evening concluded with a spirited game of bingo, with prizes including stuffed animals recently donated by Air Force Staff Sgt. Teara Nedimeyer, who collected nearly 1,000 stuffed animals for the Police Department from donation boxes at Eglin Air Force Base.

Following the success of the first games night, Officer Hulion said Community Services would like to make the event “a monthly thing.”