(July 28, 2016) More than 1,000 people are expected to attend this year’s National Night Out in Berlin, Tuesday, Aug. 2 from 4-7 p.m. in Dr. William Henry Park.
Part of a nationwide law enforcement campaign, the annual event is designed to foster a sense of community by building partnerships between police, nonprofits, church groups, local businesses and members of the general public.
“It’s about partnerships for us,” Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said. “The national spotlight is to go ahead and speak toward crime prevention and to try and find different ways to bring the all the communities together. What we’re finding is it’s not only the three hours there, it’s the process of getting there [and] having all the different organizations come together to provide the different things. The process to get there is one of enriching and fostering partnerships.”
In short, a lot of people put in a lot of hard work in order to pull off an event that looks effortless in the eyes of the public.
In Berlin, Downing said farmers, faith-based groups, government agencies and businesses come together to provide an evening of free food, free entertainment and free activities for the entire family to enjoy.
Children can be seen playing basketball in the park, jumping on a bouncy house, riding on a tractor, getting their faces painted or creating tiny masterpieces at several arts and crafts tables.
For adults, there are free health screenings, live music and food, and information tables run by dozens of local municipal and nonprofit groups, as well as local businesses.
Police and fire personnel will host demonstrations of various pieces of equipment, which, weather permitting, could include the “Trooper 4” helicopter.
Downing said attendance is especially high during election years, when as many as several thousand turn out – as long as it doesn’t rain or get too hot.
“The good thing is everybody can stop in and leave whenever they want to,” he said. “Some people just come and say hi to all the neighbors, stay for a few minutes and keep on moving, especially elderly people if it’s a little bit on the warmer side. But, because it is a three-hour event it’s not too long if people want to be there the whole time.”
Although some might search for added meaning during this year’s event given recent events highlighted in the national news, Downing said National Night Out would “have the same meaning” for him as it has since the event started, around the turn of the last century.
“I think a lot of other people would look at it a whole lot differently and might put a little more emphasis on it themselves, but I think this is what we’ve been striving to do the whole time,” he said. “For us as a mission it doesn’t change. It was very important in 2000 and it’s just as important today to go ahead and foster these relationships.
“Definitely in light of all the other things, if we can shine a little bit more light this year than in other years – or if it shines the same way and encourages someone to stop by the police department and say thank you for your service or its makes them feel a little bit more at ease – then that makes us feel much more encouraged,” Downing added. “But if we keep on that same premise that we had in 2000 and get more people to buy in, then I think we’ll be better off as a community.”
Part of a nationwide law enforcement campaign, the annual event is designed to foster a sense of community by building partnerships between police, nonprofits, church groups, local businesses and members of the general public.
“It’s about partnerships for us,” Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said. “The national spotlight is to go ahead and speak toward crime prevention and to try and find different ways to bring the all the communities together. What we’re finding is it’s not only the three hours there, it’s the process of getting there [and] having all the different organizations come together to provide the different things. The process to get there is one of enriching and fostering partnerships.”
In short, a lot of people put in a lot of hard work in order to pull off an event that looks effortless in the eyes of the public.
In Berlin, Downing said farmers, faith-based groups, government agencies and businesses come together to provide an evening of free food, free entertainment and free activities for the entire family to enjoy.
Children can be seen playing basketball in the park, jumping on a bouncy house, riding on a tractor, getting their faces painted or creating tiny masterpieces at several arts and crafts tables.
For adults, there are free health screenings, live music and food, and information tables run by dozens of local municipal and nonprofit groups, as well as local businesses.
Police and fire personnel will host demonstrations of various pieces of equipment, which, weather permitting, could include the “Trooper 4” helicopter.
Downing said attendance is especially high during election years, when as many as several thousand turn out – as long as it doesn’t rain or get too hot.
“The good thing is everybody can stop in and leave whenever they want to,” he said. “Some people just come and say hi to all the neighbors, stay for a few minutes and keep on moving, especially elderly people if it’s a little bit on the warmer side. But, because it is a three-hour event it’s not too long if people want to be there the whole time.”
Although some might search for added meaning during this year’s event given recent events highlighted in the national news, Downing said National Night Out would “have the same meaning” for him as it has since the event started, around the turn of the last century.
“I think a lot of other people would look at it a whole lot differently and might put a little more emphasis on it themselves, but I think this is what we’ve been striving to do the whole time,” he said. “For us as a mission it doesn’t change. It was very important in 2000 and it’s just as important today to go ahead and foster these relationships.
“Definitely in light of all the other things, if we can shine a little bit more light this year than in other years – or if it shines the same way and encourages someone to stop by the police department and say thank you for your service or its makes them feel a little bit more at ease – then that makes us feel much more encouraged,” Downing added. “But if we keep on that same premise that we had in 2000 and get more people to buy in, then I think we’ll be better off as a community.”