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For at least 20 years, Pumpkin Patrols consisting of the German Zivil-Polizei (Civilian Police), the Air Force’s Security Police and the Army’s Military Police have patrolled housing areas in the KMC during trick-or-treating hours.
“We want to provide a safe environment to help and support parents and their children and provide that extra layer of security to ensure it’s an enjoyable event for all,” said Capt. Benjamin Washburn, the 569th U.S. Security Forces Police Squadron operations officer.
Trick-or-treating hours for the housing areas in the KMC are 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
About 50 SPs and ZPs from the 569th USFPS, including MPs from U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern and the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 230th Military Police Company, will be grouped in two-man teams patrolling housing areas on Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and Vogelweh – both sides of B-270. About 40 SPs from the 86th Security Forces Squadron and volunteers from other organizations will be patrolling the housing area on Ramstein.
“We’ve been kind of afraid because of the cars and when they are so little, you just don’t know what might happen if they pull away from you,” said Barbara Mayers, while she was trick-or-treating with her son two years ago at the housing area on LRMC. “I decided to come out this time because I heard that the SPs and MPs were going to be out here and that made me feel safer about him walking around.”
Safety is a big concern for the Pumpkin Patrols, said Tech. Sgt. Brian Dougherty, 86th SFS non-commissioned officer in charge of police services.
“It’s dark. There’s a lot of pedestrian traffic and a greater concern for vehicular accidents,” he said.
Pumpkin Patrols can offer parents peace of mind while they are trick-or-treating with their children.
“I’ve seen them on every street, watching out for the children and stopping cars,” Mrs. Mayers said.
And her husband couldn’t agree more.
“They are all over the place,” said Capt. Jerry Mayers, from the Landstuhl Dental Activity. “There are no teenagers out here causing a ruckus, no pumpkins smashed in the middle of the street, no eggs or toilet paper. I don’t see any property damage. This is a great experience so far.”
Vandalism is also a concern, so patrols will remain out a few hours after the trick-or-treating hours.
Sergeant Dougherty said parents can also help out with keeping trick-or-treaters safe.
“It would help us out a lot if (parents) could park in designated spaces outside of the housing area and walk from there,” he said.
Sergeant Dougherty said most parking spaces in housing areas are reserved for residents. For those trick-or-treating in Ramstein, he suggests parking in the old base exchange or other designated parking spaces.
Captain Washburn advises parents whose children are trick-or-treating on Vogelweh Housing to either park in the three visitor’s parking lots or on Vogelweh and walk across the bridge to the housing area.
Sgt. 1st Class Jorge Rios, the garrison’s Directorate of Emergency Services Provost Marshal’s Office operations sergeant, suggests parking at the hospital or other approved places outside of the housing area for those trick-or-treating on LRMC.
“We do not want parents driving as they follow their children from house to house,” said Sergeant First Class Rios, who added that it was important for the garrison to support the Pumpkin Patrol and assist their SP partners in any law enforcement activity in the KMC. “We want traffic to keep moving at a safe speed.”
Another thing parents can do is make sure their children can be seen. Officials recommend children wear reflective belts and bright-colored costumes and carry flashlights.
Sergeant Dougherty said the 86th SFS patrols will have a limited supply of glow sticks for those children who are dressed in dark clothing and not wearing any reflective material.
