Allen Ward, a patrol officer with Glasgow Police, speaks with an expectant mother during a car seat installation and giveaway event held at Don Franklin Auto along Happy Valley Road in Glasgow on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
BY BRENNAN D. CRAIN, WCLU News
GLASGOW — Police officers and staff with the Glasgow Police Department were on hand Thursday at Don Franklin Auto to install car seats for locals.
Cars lined the parking lot of the auto group faster than crews could assist with the seats. About $3,000 worth of child safety seats were placed in vehicles thanks to a Kentucky Highway Safety grant the city received.
“Anything I can do to take a load off my son – he’s got enough worries going on,” said Kerry Sowers, who got a car seat installed in his vehicle for his grandson. “Being a single parent is tough, and it’s compounded working nightshift. I love him. Anything I can do to help him, I’m going to.”
When used correctly, child safety seats are 71% effective in reducing infant fatalities, 67% effective in reducing the need for hospitalization and 54% effective in reducing fatalities for children ages 1 to 4, according to data from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
But many car seats are often installed incorrectly, which creates a grave danger to children.
Among the officers installing car seats Thursday was Allen Ward, a new officer with Glasgow Police. Hailing from the southeastern part of Kentucky, he said he located to Glasgow to work as a police officer. He received 24 hours of child safety seat training from Norton Children’s Hospital.
“A lot of parents are saying, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that. I’m so glad you told me that because I’ve been doing it this way, but I’m going to start doing it this way,’” Ward said. “A lot of gratitude from the community.”
Officers undergo three days of intensive training, which promotes their knowledge about child safety seats and devices. The last class was held only a few days ago at the police department.
Glasgow Police Chief Jennifer Arbogast said community events like the car seat safety inspection and giveaway help her officers learn about community service and interact with locals. She said that’s something she has worked to improve since becoming chief three years ago.
“I think it’s good to have as many of these kind of events so kids and parents and community members can interact with us, and we can interact with them,” Arbogast said.
Those receiving new car seats included some expectant parents, those with small children and grandparents – some even arrived about 30 minutes before the event was scheduled to begin.
The event was expected to last a couple of hours, but cars continued arriving past 3 p.m. The chief said her staff planned to stay until their car seat supply was gone.
“I love doing this for the community. I know the officers love doing it for the community,” she said. “I think it’s good to get out there, and we’ve had a lot of people very appreciative of it.”
The Glasgow Police Department will assist the community with car seat installation anytime, and the department maintains a supply of car seats to give to those in need.
Those interested are urged to go to the police department – located at 101 Pin Oak Lane – and ask about the car seat program. Staff there can assist in making an appointment.
