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EL CENTRO ��ë��Ƶ� The Imperial County Sheriff��ë��Ƶ�s Office will be hosting a first-ever ��ë��Ƶ�Silent Day Out,��ë��Ƶ� open to the community but geared specifically for the special needs community.

The event will be similar to an open house, but will include opportunities for those with special needs to get an up close and more personal look at what it is the Sheriff��ë��Ƶ�s Office is and does, event organizers and department spokespersons said.

The Imperial County Sheriff��ë��Ƶ�s Office (ICSO) will have vehicles and departments on display such as the ICSO Command Center, Scientific Investigations Unit, Dispatch, and the Crime Prevention Services department will be conducting free Child ID services. The Corrections Department will have their bus on display, OHVEST (Off-Highway Vehicle Enforcement Safety Team) vehicles.

There will be a coloring contest with gift basket prizes for the top three entries. A limited supply of popsicles and drinks will be on hand for children to beat any potential outdoor heat.

In addition for the event being ��ë��Ƶ�a day for the public to come out and enjoy,��ë��Ƶ� the Silent Day Out will be geared towards those with special needs and held ��ë��Ƶ�in honor of Autism Awareness Month,��ë��Ƶ� Tina Garcia, ICSO Crime Prevention Services Supervisor, told IVP in an interview on Thursday, April 25.

��ë��Ƶ�It��ë��Ƶ�s going to be silent because we understand that our special needs community needs that,��ë��Ƶ� Garcia said. ��ë��Ƶ�A lot of times we have to be aware of what might frighten or over-stimulate them ��ë��Ƶ� at other community events the kids like to play with the sirens and stuff but (for this one) we��ë��Ƶ�re not going to do any of that because we��ë��Ƶ�re trying to cater to our special needs community. ��ë��Ƶ�

Garcia said an ICSO Corrections officer, Juan Chavarin, came up with the idea in 2023. Rather than rushing what might be the first installment of a potential annual event, the ICSO decided to ��ë��Ƶ�hang onto the idea to decided what we wanted to do, and (this year) we just kinda ran with it.��ë��Ƶ�

��ë��Ƶ�We want to be sure that they be included,��ë��Ƶ� she said. ��ë��Ƶ�...to be able to come out and not be afraid that there��ë��Ƶ�s going to be any loud noises or anything like that. We understand that some of them might be afraid if they see us in the field because we look a little different and have lights and sirens with us, but this (event) will give them an up close and personal touch or feel to it as to why we do what we do.��ë��Ƶ�

��ë��Ƶ�We understand that it is a wide spectrum with autism,��ë��Ƶ� Garcia said. ��ë��Ƶ�We want to make sure that they get to explore.��ë��Ƶ�

Chief Deputy Manuel De Leon, who also functions as the department��ë��Ƶ�s public information officer, agreed.

��ë��Ƶ�I think we should consider all parts of our communities when we��ë��Ƶ�re serving them,��ë��Ƶ� De Leon said. ��ë��Ƶ�This (event) is unique in the sense that ��ë��Ƶ� this is trying to be more geared towards special needs, be quieter, more personal, and overall, will benefit our community as a whole.��ë��Ƶ�

While the event may be geared towards special needs families, it is open to the public at large.

��ë��Ƶ�People interested in all of the different things that we do and have, they are more than welcome to come out and ask questions,��ë��Ƶ� Garcia said. ��ë��Ƶ�If you have a special needs child you��ë��Ƶ�re more than welcome to bring them out, just to give them a positive experience.��ë��Ƶ�

��ë��Ƶ�The goal is to give them the opportunity to encounter us positively,��ë��Ƶ� De Leon said.

The ICSO��ë��Ƶ�s inaugural Silent Day Out will be held on Saturday, April 27 at the Sheriff��ë��Ƶ�s Office headquarters, located at 328 Applestill Road in El ��ë��Ƶ.

The event will be held in front of the south parking lot, in front of the Border Suppression Team building, the headquarters��ë��Ƶ� southernmost building with some public access. The public is welcome.