The screech of fire-engine sirens, the crackling roar of police motorcycles and the frenetic thunder of a massive helicopter rang out loud and clear into the air at the 67th edition of the Hero Thrill Show at the Wells Fargo Center parking lotin South Philadelphia today. Kids and the young at heart had a golden opportunity to be unofficial firefighters and police officers for a day, while enjoying seashore-style food (think fries and funnel cakes) and throwback music from the record turnstile of The Sound of Philly – all in a carnival setting. Thousands attended the event soaking up the sights and sounds during more than 4 hours of activities. The Philadelphia Police Department K-9 Unit seen here with 20 police dogs representing three different breeds performed real-life emergency defense-and-response exercises including obedience drills, agility hurdles on an obstacle course along with apprehension and narcotics searches. Procced go to the chidlren's college education of Philadlephia  fire and police heroes who died in the line of duty. 

​Video by H. Michael Hammi
Entering the Wells Fargo Center for the 67th Annual Hero Thrill Show
​$10,000 HERO THRILL SHOW CHECK: WW Philadelphia recently presented a check for $10,000 to the Hero Thrill Show, Inc. as part of the culmination of the 34th WW Philadelphia Battle of the Badges™ weight-loss competition between the city’s two uniformed departments. The check was turned over by police and fire department representatives to Attorney Jimmy Binns, president of the Hero Thrill Show, Inc. Sharing in the presentation (from left) are Fire Department Battalion Chief David Kearney, Deputy Police Commissioner Robin Wimberly, Jimmy Binns, Deb Wright, general manager of WW Philadelphia and Police Inspector Jarree W. Thomas. The police department won this year’s contest and now leads in the overall standings 18 to 16. Both departments lost a combined total of 1049.1 pounds with an average weight-loss of 9.49 pounds. In 34 years of competition the total weight loss for both departments is 202,265.54 pounds and WW Philadelphia has contributed $298,500 for scholarships of children of police and firefighters killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.