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Prince George's County Police Departments bolster relationships at National Night Out
Published on: Wednesday, July 28, 2010
By Chris Grady
The National Night Out has been a chance for communities all around the country to get to know their local police departments in a relaxed, family friendly environment since 1984.
On Aug. 3, police departments around the country will be taking part in the event to help improve their relationships with their communities.
In addition to strengthening the relationships between local police departments and the communities that they serve, the NNO is designed to improve drug and crime prevention awareness, build support and participation in anticrime programs and to let criminals know that communities are taking an active approach against crime, according to the event's website.
The events also provide free admission, food, various activities and demonstrations.
"It's an outstanding community builder," Bowie's Deputy Chief of Police John Nesky said.
The event in Laurel will have a demonstration from the Emergency Response Team. In addition, a mounted police unit from the Maryland-National Capital Park Police is expected to be at the event, which is being held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Granville Gude Park.
Last year several thousand people attended the event in Laurel, according to Private First Class Theresa Kelliher.
"We get bigger every year because word of mouth spreads," Kelliher said.
The Bowie Police Department, which will host a NNO event for the fourth consecutive year, had 1,700 people attend in 2009. Bowie's celebration will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Allen Pond Park.
The Bowie event will include information booths about preventing identity theft and fraud as well as child identification kits, which consist of DNA swabs and voice recordings. In addition, the Bowie Fire Department will give children demonstrations of how to properly use fire extinguishers.
"It gives kids a chance to interact with police officers and gives them a chance to see that they are approachable people who are willing to help," Nesky said.
Organizers of the event in Hyattsville, which begins at 7 p.m. in Magruder Park, also hopes to bolster the relationship that police officers have with residents.
At the Hyattsville's event, officers will be playing basketball with children.
"It lets our guys let down their guard and have fun," said Hyattsville Community Action Team Sergeant Chris Purvis.
In addition, there will be a seatbelt convincer, which will allow people to experience what a car crash feels like while wearing a seatbelt.
Greenbelt is taking a different approach to the NNO, as there will be around 12 different areas hosting NNO festivities. The different locations are sponsored by homeowners' associations and neighborhood crime watch groups. The Greenbelt police will be travelling around to each of the events through the night.
"Each area has their own character," said Greenbelt Special Operations Division Commander Captain Thomas Kemp
New Carrollton's NNO event sponsored by the Friends of the New Carrollton Police Department Foundation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Beckett Park.
"They get to see that the officers are just like them," event planner Sharon Rice said of New Carrollton residents.
This will be the fifth year New Carrolton has held the event and will feature waterslides for children, a car show and a performance from Silver Spring band the Southern Drifters.
The event will also feature the Prince George's Elks Lodge's drug trailer, which will give parents the opportunity to see what drug paraphernalia looks like in order to help prevent their children from using drugs.
"It is going to be an action-packed, fun-filled night that will allow the community to come together," said Rice.
The Maryland Transit Authority will also be at the event to discuss the planned Purple Line with the community. In addition, various agencies and businesses will be on hand to meet with the community.
The Prince George's County Police will be hosting an NNO event at the Mall at Prince George's from 6 to 8 p.m.
The event will feature a display of emergency vehicles, a K-9 demonstration, crime prevention information and the opportunity for parents to make KIDCARE photo identifications for their children.
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