Get To Know Local Police This Law Day At Great Lakes Mall

"It's one of those things where people can see us in a nonthreatening situation and see that we're real people," Mentor Police Officer Marilyn Satterfield said of her department's participation in Law Day this Saturday at the .

The Mentor Police Department will be joined by officers from Eastlake, Kirtland Hills, Lake Metroparks, Wickliffe and Willoughby, as well as the Lake County General Health District and Crossroads.

The officers will hand out awards, talk about what their jobs and answer questions from the community. But the most important thing the officers will do, as Satterfield said, is demonstrate to the public that they are real people -- not just badges.

The festivities will kick off on the main stage in the concourse at about 1:30 p.m. with a demonstration from the Kang Do Won Martial Arts Institute.

Then Mentor Police will talk about the upcoming , which encourages drivers to wear their seat belts.

Then officers will announce the award winners for their Third Grade Seatbelt Safety Poster contest and 9-1-1 safety contest for first graders.

Next, the Lake County Safe Communities Coalition will give the Outstanding Community Partner Award to Mandovi Enterprises, owner of seven Lake County McDonald's restaurants.

There will still be entertainment, even when nothing is happening on the main stage. Officer Phil -- a ventriloquist and magician -- will show the kids some of his magic tricks, while police from the local departments talk about their upcoming programs like Mentor's bike rodeo on May 19.

"It's a fun time," Satterfield said. "Come visit us."