TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – First responders received free admission to the East Texas State Fair Tuesday, giving local police officers, deputies and others a chance to step away from the front lines and spend a day with their families.
Tyler Police Community Response Officer Joshua Smedley said family plays an important role in the job.
“I think family is one of the most important aspects of this career due to all of the intense situations. Your family can kind of help calm you down,” Smedley said.
Smedley said his wife and two children planned to ride the Ferris wheel and eat his favorite fair food: turkey legs.
Smith County Deputy Anthony Gummer said turkey legs are also his favorite fair food. He attended the fair with his mother, sister and brother.
“Just seeing the smiles. It brings happiness to my heart. Being able to see everyone having fun. Like I said, eating good food and coming up to say hello with no pressures of being the police,” Gummer said.
Officer connects with young fairgoers
Smedley set up a table at the fair, where he offered advice to young potential recruits and gave out stickers and coloring books to kids. He showed 15-year-old Aiden Hall his vehicle and different sirens.
“It was pretty cool,” Hall said.
Hall said he has wanted to be a police officer since he was five years old.
“To be able to show this to the kids that want to follow in our footsteps, it’s an absolute honor to show these little kids this is a good thing to do,” Gummer said.
Christus Health EMS and Smith County Fire Rescue also attended the fair for free that day.
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