Dedham Police Department and Parks & Recreation Annual Bike Rodeo

When Dedham Police officer Ron Pucci got to the microphone, he summed up the day perfectly. Officer Pucci gave thanks to his Chief Mike d`Entremont, his fellow officers, Bob Stanley and the folks from Dedham Parks and Recreation, but most of all – to the hundreds of boys and girls who showed up at the annual  Dedham Bike Rodeo. 

Over the years, the event has evolved from the simple parking lot at to the spacious grounds of the .

Earlier in the day, powdered lines were laid out in the parking lots, for the children to learn and review their bike safety. Throughout the day, Officer Pucci stressed the importance of always wearing your helmet. Boxes of T-shirts and raffle tickets were available to the riders as they arrived. There was a demonstration  from the K-9 unit of the Norfolk County Sheriff`s Department and a pet truck from the was a big hit with the young ones.

Several Dedham Police vehicles were on hand and Chief d`Entremont and his officers mingled with the crowd throughout the morning. By lunchtime, the smell of the grill filled the air and Chuck Dello Iacono was hard at work, keeping up with the demand of the hungry riders.

With the help of Ju Ju Mucciaccio and Bob Stanley, Officer Pucci announced the winning numbers of the raffle tickets – good for an ice cream from JP Licks, or a gift certificate from Papa Gino`s and IHOP. The four Grand Prize winners each received a brand new bicycle.Thanks to a ladder truck from Boston and an engine with plenty of hose from Dedham, the Fire Departments set up a 60 ft. tall “sprinkler” to cool off the crowd by mid afternoon. What a fantastic  way to spend time with your family, friends and neighbors.