MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Squad Cars, Tactical Gear, and K9 Gizmo Turn School Day Into Civic Learning Experience At Epiphany Catholic School

COON RAPIDS, MN (May 22, 2026) For a brief moment, the line of police vehicles parked outside Epiphany Catholic School appeared serious enough to stop passing drivers in their tracks.

Squad cars stood outside the school entrance. Uniformed officers moved through the property. Students pressed against windows and gathered near doorways trying to catch a glimpse of what was unfolding.

But inside the school, the atmosphere was anything but tense.

Children laughed as they climbed into police vehicles. Officers answered a steady stream of questions. Tactical vests were passed from one curious student to another. At one point, even Fr. Thomas Dufner found himself trying on police gear as the room erupted in amusement over who, exactly, was in charge.

What unfolded at the Coon Rapids school was not an emergency response, but an immersive community engagement visit organized by the Coon Rapids Police Department, designed to introduce students to the realities of local law enforcement through direct interaction, education, and hands-on experience.

For students at the preschool-through-eighth-grade Catholic school, the event transformed an ordinary school day into something closer to a living classroom lesson in civic life, public service, and community trust.

Located at 11001 Hanson Boulevard NW in Coon Rapids, Epiphany Catholic School serves families throughout Anoka County and operates under the spiritual leadership of Fr. Thomas Dufner. Accredited by the Minnesota Non Public School Accrediting Association, the school incorporates faith formation, academics, and community engagement into its educational model.

That broader emphasis on civic connection was visible throughout the police department’s visit.

Officers opened squad cars to students, allowing children to climb into the driver’s seat and examine the tools officers use during patrol operations. Students explored mobile communication systems, emergency lighting controls, onboard equipment, and radar technology typically seen only from a distance during roadside traffic stops or emergency calls.

For many children, it marked the first close-up interaction they had ever experienced with a law enforcement vehicle.

The officers also introduced students to standard tactical and utility equipment used during police operations. Heavy protective vests and specialized gear circulated through classrooms and gathering spaces as students attempted to understand the physical weight and operational demands officers carry during daily service.

At times, the scene resembled less of a formal demonstration and more of a community gathering built around curiosity and trust. Students laughed while trying on oversized gear. Officers knelt to answer questions at eye level. Faculty members joined in the interaction, helping dissolve the formality that often separates children from uniformed authority figures.

The event’s most anticipated moment arrived with the appearance of Gizmo, a police K9 whose demonstration quickly became the centerpiece of the day.

Accompanied by his handler, Gizmo showcased specialized police dog skills including agility, obedience, scent tracking responsiveness, and controlled command execution. Officers explained to students how police service dogs support law enforcement operations ranging from evidence recovery to suspect tracking and missing person searches.

As Gizmo moved through the demonstration area with disciplined precision, students responded with a mixture of excitement, fascination, and awe.

The K9 presentation also provided officers an opportunity to explain the extensive training required not only for police dogs, but for handlers who work alongside them in high-pressure situations requiring coordination, discipline, and rapid response.

School officials described the visit as both educational and relational, emphasizing the importance of allowing students to encounter public safety officials in positive, non-emergency settings.

Increasingly, school-based police outreach initiatives across Minnesota and the broader United States have sought to build familiarity between young people and law enforcement through classroom engagement, demonstrations, safety education, and community-based programming rather than solely through moments of crisis or enforcement.

At Epiphany Catholic School, that philosophy appeared to guide the tone of the day from beginning to end.

The visit was coordinated in partnership with Officer St. Martin, a member of the Coon Rapids Police Department and also a parent within the school community. School leadership publicly expressed gratitude to Officer St. Martin and her department partner for organizing what many students described as one of the most memorable events of the school year.

By the afternoon, the squad cars eventually departed the school grounds. Tactical gear was packed away. Gizmo’s demonstration concluded. Classrooms returned to their normal routines.

But long after the police vehicles left the parking lot, students continued talking excitedly about radar controls, flashing lights, K9 demonstrations, and the experience of briefly stepping into the world of those sworn to protect the community around them.

MinneapoliMedia | Community. Culture. Civic Life.