Anthony Castellano/The Gazette A group of Laurel youth led by Laurel Police Department Pfc. James Beasock take a neighborhood watch bike ride near Bond Mill Elementary School on June 16.

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Anthony Castellano/The Gazette A group of Laurel youth led by Laurel Police Department Pfc. James Beasock take a neighborhood watch bike ride near Bond Mill Elementary School on June 16.
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Anthony Castellano/The Gazette Pfc. Mark Schmidt of the Laurel Police Department hands out a sticker to Peyton Ridgely, 7, of Laurel before a neighborhood watch bike ride at Bond Mill Elementary School on June 16.
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Anthony Castellano/The Gazette Laurel residents Virginia Rinker (from left), Lisa Ridgely, Ebony Sams, 2; Austin Ridgely, 6; and Bryce Knight, 7, ride along with Pfc. Micah Farmer of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police during a neighborhood watch bike ride near Bond Mill Elementary School on June 16.

Anthony Castellano/The Gazette A group of Laurel youth led by Laurel Police Department Pfc. James Beasock take a neighborhood watch bike ride near Bond Mill Elementary School on June 16.

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After months of preparation, West Laurel’s first Neighborhood Watch bike event was cut short by rain.

But that didn’t dampen the spirit of 8-year-old Joshua Sams, who was one of about 25 children and parents to participate in the June 16 event, organized by West Laurel’s Neighborhood Watch and community liaison officers Pfc. James Beasock and Cpl. Gerald Knight from the District VI office. It kicked off from Bond Mill Elementary School in West Laurel.

Melissa Daston, West Laurel Civic Association president, said the event drew more people than traditional neighborhood walks, which typically attract about 10 residents.

“We’ve done a walk and this was the chance to get the kids involved,” Daston said. “We thought this was a good way to show them police officers are someone they can trust.”

Despite the rainy setback, Beasock and his colleagues said they were happy about even the short time spent with the Laurel families.

“Even if it’s a Saturday or Sunday we promise we’ll do it again,” Knight said immediately after the ride. “We’ll make it happen. We’ll probably do it twice a year.”

Knight said officers are now planning another bike event within the next month to make up for the one cut short by rain.

“When I rode my bike I didn’t know I was going to be taking a hard shower,” Joshua said. “It was fun. My favorite part was riding back up the hill to the school.”

Joshua’s mother, Malaika Sams, said the children enjoyed the experience because of the opportunity to have a police escort.

“This is not something you see every day,” she said. “The kids were looking forward to it.”

Before pedaling down Sherwood Avenue, Beasock and Knight gave the children basic safety tips about what side of the road to stay on and securing their helmets.

Beasock led the way on his own bike along with several other officers.

Knight said he hopes the neighborhood bike events will yield as much success as the neighborhood walks, which he said have helped significantly reduce crime by 85 percent in West Laurel, Beltsville and parts of College Park where the District VI office has jurisdiction.

Daniel Muhammad attended the event with his two daughters, Azaria, 5, and Amari, 8.

“I think it’s fantastic that it involves parents and children and police officers. It facilitates communication between neighbors, and now kids,” Muhammad said. “It makes them feel comfortable with police instead of police only coming around when something bad happens.”

cokparanta@gazette.net