SAUGUS — The Saugus Police Department, in connection with the Saugus Public Library, took a trip to the Saugus Iron Works to read “Police Officers on Patrol,” by Kersten Hamilton, and answer questions about safety Thursday morning. Detective Stacey Forni and Officer Gina Vozzella led the event.

Forni has been an officer for 31 years, while Vozzella was in dispatch for five years before joining the department as an officer in 2025.

Forni explained that she handles abuse cases, including elder abuse, child abuse, and animal abuse, or “anything that can be put under that umbrella.” Forni also installs car seats for families.

As Forni read the book to the audience, she explained the different situations and the importance of police response.

The first situation saw officers responding to a broken street light.

“People call officers for help because they’re afraid there’s going to be a car crash,” Forni said.

Forni pointed out how Officer Mike, a character in the book, stood in the intersection to direct traffic so that cars could move safely through.

The book then moved on to Officer Jan, an officer who rode a horse.

“Sometimes police officers are on horses. Most of the time that’s in a big city like Boston. … We don’t have horses here, but in some bigger cities, it’s easier to travel around on a horse because of all the traffic,” she said.

In the story, Officer Jan is called to help a little boy find his mother.

Forni told the kids that when they get lost, they can call the police for help.

She then explained some of the most important parts of an officer’s uniform, like their radio, and said that everything the officer has is a part of their own “toolbelt.”

During the event, Vozzella went around handing children their own little badges and coloring books to take home.