CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- With Halloween fast approaching, the base is readying their annual safety arsenal to ensure monsters, princesses and superheroes alike enjoy a fun and safe fright night.
Operation Base Reign Over Our Munchkins, a safety measure implemented for more than a decade by the Provost Marshal’s Office here, will kick off Halloween night to ensure the safety and well-being of throngs of ghouls from 5:30-8 p.m., the base’s designated trick-or-treating hours.
During Operation BROOM, police patrols will augment through base housing areas, including: De Luz, San Luis Rey, Stuart Mesa, Santa Margarita, San Onofre, O’Neil Heights, Serra Mesa, Wire Mountain I and II, South Mesa and Del Mar.
Personnel will also be stationed throughout neighborhoods issuing safety tip pamphlets, assisting lost children and checking candy for foreign objects.
“Our goal is to provide a safe Halloween environment and a positive community relationship between the military police and the community,” said Staff Sgt. Terrick Miller, physical security/crime prevention chief, PMO, Security Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
Miller offered several tips and suggestions for parents to ensure their trick-or-treater is safe as possible.
Tip #1: Parents should be especially watchful for vehicles, and motorists should make an effort to limit driving.
Tip #2: Pets should remain indoors to ensure the safety of children as some costumes may startle unsuspecting animals. However, if pets do accompany a family, they should be on a leash.
Tip #3: Activities such as smashing pumpkins, spray painting walls and covering homes with shaving cream are illegal activities.
Tip #4: Costumes should be bright and contain reflective material. Avoid outfits that uncover a child’s head that may prevent them from seeing a vehicle or other hazards.
Tip #5: Pin a slip of paper in your child’s pocket with their name and address in case they get separated from their group.
The presence of military police patrolling and protecting allow parents to relax and children to enjoy the night to the fullest.
“I feel much better knowing that PMO will be patrolling and making sure everything is in order,” said Lance Cpl. Quanika Bauford, a supply technician with Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and mother to a young son.
With the implementation of Operation BROOM, children and their families can enjoy a safe night and focus on bagging yummy goodies, said Miller.
“BROOM has been a success since I’ve been here on Camp Pendleton, and I am confident it will continue to be this year as well,” said Miller.
For more information, call (760) 763-2077/2076 or contact Crime Prevention at (760) 725-9452.