By Wesley Schnell
Kennedy Plaza was filled with food, music and Long Beach residents connecting with members of the Police Department on Aug. 4, during the 16th annual National Night Out. The event was presented by the Police Department and the North Park Crisis Team.
“It’s a great day for the Police Department,” Police Commissioner Richard DePalma said. “We can connect with the community on a positive note. Everybody calls the police on their worst day or when something bad happens, so it’s nice to have an opportunity for the cops and the community to get together on a happy occasion.”
The nationwide get-together, held each year on the first Tuesday in August, began in 1984, in Philadelphia, as a community-building initiative, an opportunity for police and residents to gather in a positive atmosphere rather than encountering one another only during crises. The event is now held in more than 17,000 communities across the country.
The goal is to encourage relationships between residents and members of law enforcement — and, for officers, to build trust among the community. Participants ranging from families to City Council members packed the plaza to support the cause.
“As a retired police detective in New York City, I used to go to a few of them,” Council President Brendan Finn said. “Probably 20 years’ worth. And I think this is a really great one, because I see real interaction between the police and the community here.”
Residents enjoyed live music on stage, a barbecue and a casual evening with members of the city police and fire departments. Children kept busy with bounce houses, a gaga pit, arts and crafts activities and carnival treats including popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy. They also had the chance to talk with police officers and firefighters, get a close-up look at police cars and try out fire truck water hoses.
“It’s nice for us to get together on a positive note,” DePalma said. “If you look around, Long Beach comes out. We’re all here for one another, and we all come out for one another.”