National Night Out Set for August 7
By Robin Vinci | Editor at July 26, 2024 | 2:30 pm | Print
For the second year, National Night Out will be located at Central Park on Main St. It will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 7 and is open to the public.
“This is a free event organized by the New Britain Police Department for our community. National Night Out symbolizes America’s Night Out Against Crime by bringing the Police together with the community they serve in a fun filled atmosphere,” said Sgt. Paula Keller, who organizes the event. “Kids can enjoy sitting in a police cruiser and climbing through a SWAT vehicle, or watching our New Britain Motor Units ride through a challenging obstacle course. Our detectives will also be on hand to guide the kids through a mock crime scene, and they can even dust for fingerprints.”
Child ID kits will be handed out to parents. Parents can take the ID kits and do their child’s fingerprints. Then mail them to the police department.
The New Britain Police Athletic League will also be handing out backpacks this year. The Police Bicycle officers will be teaching the kids some safety tips. As usual, the New Britain Fire and EMS will also be at the event with their equipment and Police K9s will do demonstrations.
Target, HRA Wheeler Clinic will be there while Lighthouse Ministries will offer face painting.
One of the highlights is the free cookout with hamburgers and hot dogs and a DJ with plenty of music for the YWCA strive dancers who are going to show off their moves!
“This is a great fun filled family night with a lot of positive activities for everyone,” Sgt. Keller added. “We have quite a few new things going on that we did not have last year.”
NATW’s Executive Director, Matt Peskin introduced National Night Out. The first National Night Out took place on Tuesday, August 7th 1984. That first year, 2.5 million Americans took part across 400 communities in 23 states.
National Night Out now involves over 37 million people and 15,000 communities from all fifty states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide.
NATW is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and promotion of various crime prevention programs including neighborhood watch groups, law enforcement agencies, state and regional crime prevention associations, businesses, civic groups, and individuals, devoted to safer communities. The nation’s premiere crime prevention network works with law enforcement officials and civilian leaders to keep crime watch volunteers informed, interested, involved and motivated. Since 1981, NATW continues to serve thousands of members across the nation.
