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Community Day

Police officer in a dunk tank high-fiving the HokieBird

The Virginia Tech Police Department will host its annual Community Day celebration on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Students, employees, and the general public are invited to attend to learn more about the nationally-accredited police department.

The free event will take place on Virginia Tech's Drillfield and will include activities for all ages including:

  • Doughnut eating contest
  • "Dunk-A-Cop"
  • Virginia Tech Police Department, K-9 Teams, Virginia Tech Rescue, Blacksburg Fire, Christiansburg PD, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Carilion Life-Guard, Galax Police, Virginia State Police, and Alternative Transportation.

Photo Gallery

  • A police dog holds protective padding in his mouth.

    A police dog holds protective padding in his mouth.

    Officer Jaret Reece and Bax display some protective padding during a demonstration.

  • A police dog sniffs the ground, closely followed by his handler.

    A police dog sniffs the ground, closely followed by his handler.

    An officer conducts a K-9 demonstration.

  • Officer Austin Sumners and Nero conduct a K-9 demonstration.

    An officer does a demonstration with a police dog.

    An officer does a demonstration with a police dog.

  • A participant uses a Drunk Goggle Cart.

    A participant uses a Drunk Goggle Cart.

    The drunk goggle carts simulate driving while intoxicated.

  • A participant crashes into a traffic cone while using a Drunk Goggle Cart.

    A participant crashes into a traffic cone while using a Drunk Goggle Cart.

    DUI-simulating goggles led to a few collisions.

  • A young participant extinguishes a fire.

    A young participant extinguishes a fire.

    Participants were able to learn how to extinguish fires.

  • A person looks in through the windshield of a helicopter.

    A person looks in through the windshield of a helicopter.

    The Carillion Lifeguard helicopter crew flew in for the event.

  • An onlooker observes people working on a helicopter.

    An onlooker observes people working on a helicopter.

    The crew showed participants around the helicopter.

  • Young participants eat doughnuts.

    Young participants eat doughnuts.

    Contestants raced to win the doughnut eating contest.

  • Participants examine alcohol bottles.

    Participants examine alcohol bottles.

    Demonstrators taught participants about standard amounts of alcoholic drinks.

  • A heavily-padded officer prepares for a spar.

    A heavily-padded officer prepares for a spar.

    One officer dressed in padded protective equipment for self-defense demonstrations.

  • A participant spars with a heavily-padded officer.

    A participant spars with a heavily-padded officer.

    Participants were able to practice sparring with an officer as part of a self-defense demonstration.

  • A recently-dunked officer high-fives the HokieBird.

    A recently-dunked officer high-fives the HokieBird.

    Officer John Tarter shares a high-five with the HokieBird after being dunked.

  • An officer falls into the dunk tank.

    An officer falls into the dunk tank.

    Participants were invited to try and dunk police officers.

  • An officer prepares to be dunked.

    An officer prepares to be dunked.

    Each officer had to reset the dunk tank for the next.

  • A person participates in a life-saving drill.

    A person participates in a life-saving drill.

    There were many tasks in the EFFORT obstacle course.

  • A participant navigates an obstacle course.

    A participant navigates an obstacle course.

    One obstacle in the EFFORT obstacle course was a wall to scale.

  • A young participant is assisted through the obstacle course.

    A young participant is assisted through the obstacle course.

    Participants of all ages were welcomed.

  • Participants run during Community Day.

    Participants run during Community Day.

    The event was open to all members of the community.