 Police helped clean up, educate and entertain at a weekend community event in Thorncliffe Park.
The 53 Division Community Response Unit (CRU) officers helped turn the May 15 event, dubbed Thorncliffe - A Celebration - into a delightful day for dozens of families.
Officers, police foundation students and police auxiliaries painted over approximately 5,000 square-feet of graffiti that has plagued the east side of R.V. Burgess Park. The gang graffiti had been in plain sight of a playground.
"The graffiti has been the focal point right in the centre of the Thorncliffe Park community… unfortunately the families have been subjected to it," Sgt. Peter Henry said. "It gives them a feeling of being unsafe and that they're losing their parks to youth and gangs. We wanted to take back the park and give it a safe feeling again."
 CRU officers also held a 'bicycle rodeo.'
The hundred or so participants had their bikes and helmets inspected and repaired by a bike mechanic and some officers.
Most of the bikes needed air, tightening and slight adjusting before the kids were instructed on bicycle safety. The children were also led on a short road course aimed at getting them to signal properly and ride safely.
Another police attraction was the youth identification station. Parents brought their kids to be photographed and fingerprinted in the event they are ever reported missing.
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