MORE: Middletown’s National Night Out has ‘exceeded everyone’s expectations.’ Here's why.
National Night Out is meant to enhance the relationship between police departments and their neighborhoods. According to the National Night Out website, 122 locations in Ohio are registered to participate this year.
“It’s all about community interaction,” said Fairfield police officer Doug Day.
MORE: Couple placed on house arrest after dog found frozen to death
For the Fairfield Police Department, this will be their second year hosting their own event. Officer Day said that they were inspired to host their own night out after years of attending the event at other departments.
“We were going to a lot of other ones, but it wasn’t really about our community,” Day said.
Day said that Fairfield’s first Night Out event last year had a great response from the community. This year’s event will include firearms training simulators, canine demonstrations, and giveaways.
MORE: Language barrier led to misreport of stabbing, police say
Hamilton’s police department, meanwhile, takes a different approach to the event. Sgt. Brian Robinson said the city police department refers to its event as their annual “open house” and that the renaming has earned them a bigger public following.
“As an open house, we’re more interactive and people take more ownership of the police department,” Robinson said.
Like with many other National Night Out events, Hamilton will be demonstrating some of its special equipment and vehicles to the public.
MORE: Dogs can now join Mud Mania fun with new canine-only event, Mutt Mania
But Robinson emphasized that its focus is on the interactions between the officers and the community.
“It’s an opportunity to connect with police officers more as people instead of a uniform,” he said.
The police chief and several officers will attend tonight’s event, and Lindenwald Baptist Church is providing bounce houses and face painting for children and free food for all visitors.
———
TONIGHT’S NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENTS:
Middletown Police Department: 5 to 9 p.m. on the lawn of Berachah Church, 1900 Johns Road
Hamilton Police Department: 6 to 8 p.m. at police headquarters, 331 S. Front St.
Fairfield Police Department: 6 to 9 p.m. at police headquarters, 5230 Pleasant Ave.
All National Night Out events are free to the public.
About the Author