Child Government Day highlights careers at Westmoreland courthouse

Lila and Hallie Saxman didn’t just get to see their dad in action on Friday.

They also were able to see what happens under the 119-year-old golden dome at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg as part of an annual tradition: employees bring their children to work.

More than 60 elementary school students attended Westmoreland County’s Child Government Day, witnessing government in action. The children, in grades four through six, participated in mock crime scene investigations and fingerprinting, learned about court proceedings and emergency responses, and watched a tutorial on wildlife in the county parks and a demonstration of park police K-9 officers in action.

“It was really cool to see the K-9 dogs and what they do and how they sniff out stuff,” said 9-year-old Hallie Saxman.

The dogs, Rico and Elliott, along with handlers Bill Myers and Brian Elliott, demonstrated how they detect firearms and drugs. Elliott donned a padded arm guard as Myers instructed Rico to capture a would-be suspect.

The Saxman sisters came to work with their father Zach, a benefits coordinator in the county’s human resources office.

“You can talk to your kids about what you do at work, but it is good for them to see it,” Saxman said.

Child Government Day has been held each year at the courthouse since the 1980s, according to the Vera Spina, the county’s chief clerk. It has been coordinated by the commissioners office for the last decade.

“This is the county’s take on Bring Your Kids to Work Day. It’s a day to see what their parents do and we try to pick the most interesting demonstrations for the kids,” Spina said.

Commissioners Ted Kopas and Sean Kertes spoke with the group and participated in several of the sessions.

“Kids really don’t learn about county government in school, so this is a great way to get information to them about what county government is and what their parents do, and have a little fun,” Kopas said.