MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Hard work paid off in Martin County to make Halloween fun and safe for trick or treaters.
Thousands of people spent Halloween at the Martin County Sheriff’s Office Trunk or Treat event.
More families are leaving their neighborhood streets to collect candy at the sheriff’s office.
“It’s our fifth year. I think it’s our biggest year ever,” said Martin County Sheriff William Snyder.
“We’ve enjoyed it every year,” said Martin County resident Alfred Miller. He has been bringing his grandsons for the last four years.
“Well, this is a very safe place to be,” Miller said. He likes knowing he gets a lot of extra help keeping an eye on their safety.
“I have my SWAT team overlooking this venue. We have our regularly assigned deputies here doing security. There’s no safer place to trick or treat than right here,” Snyder said.
Giving the community a safe place to spend the holiday is why the sheriff’s office continues to pull the event together, with the help of dozens of local businesses who donate candy and bring various activities, such as music and a petting zoo.
“They don’t have to knock on a stranger’s door. They don’t have to walk in a dark costume out on the street where cars could come by and hit or bump the child,” Snyder said
But even for the families who don’t attend trunk or treat, law enforcement still takes the time to make sure children are safe in their own neighborhoods.
“We have extra patrols on the street, trying to slow traffic down, responding to any calls about suspicious people,” Snyder said.
“We’ve done all sex offender checks, we’ve shared with them the law does not allow them to interact with children.”