Sunday afternoon, Mike Passero, mayor of New London, was surrounded at water-gunpoint.

At Bates Woods Park, 15 to 20 young children and adults aimed at him and chased him and, in a matter of seconds, his clothes were completely soaked through with water. But that was not enough for Anthony Nolan, state representative and police officer, who grabbed a hose of water and dangled it over the mayor, who laughed and tried desperately to use his hat as a shield.

While it's not an everyday sight, it is typical for New London Water Wars, a community water gun fight started in 2010 by Nolan and Frank Colmenares, before the two ventured into creating the city's talent show. At the time, it served as a response to an altercation with police where several New London residents had been arrested in connection to a water-gun fight that had gotten out of control.

Nolan said they launched the event to provide the community with a safe area, such as Bates Woods Park, where they had permission to use water hoses, to have a water fight.

On Sunday, Nolan unofficially wore his police shirt while engaging in the water battle. "I do it as a way to assimilate the uniform and close the gap to make people understand that not all police officers are bad," he said.

The last Water Wars took place in 2018, after which Colmenares thought it would be the last one. Colmenares said he began to focus more on his filming company, ReelE Media, and was suddenly left with less free time. 

Then COVID-19 hit.

As Facebook memories reminded the community about the good times they shared at previous Water Wars, Colmenares said there was pressure, people asking if he would do it again.

"I responded and told them we can do this," he added.

Colmenares said he was amazed to see the community come together. Ledge Light Health District held a free vaccination clinic at the event. In collaboration with Sound Community Services, the organization donated school supplies, handing out backpacks and stationery to children at the event, and provided food trucks and inflatable slides.

Cynthia Orga, a New London native who now resides in Groton, found out about the event through Facebook and decided to bring her 13-year-old before school starts this week.

"More towns should do it," Orga said. "Not everyone has the income or means to go to like Six Flags, and this is free."

She said she thought it was great that people like Nolan and Colmenares organized this kind of event.

j.vazquez@theday.com