Politics & Government

National Night Out at Allen Pond Park a Hit

Local law enforcement, firefighters, city officials and organizations, and local businesses gathered at Allen Pond Park Tuesday night as part of the nationwide initiative, National Night Out.

First started in 1983, National Night Out is a coordinated nationwide event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and was celebrated this year on August 2 around the country.

Last year, over 15,000 communities from all 50 states participated, totaling roughly 37 million people who took part in the annual event.

According to the website for National Night Out, the program is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood and police relationships and send a message to criminals that the neighborhoods are organizing and fighting back against crime.

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The local event was held at Allen Pond Park, where local law enforcement and emergency personnel partnered with city organizations and local business to give residents a chance to meet  local officers and enjoy a night at the park with giveaways and information about public safety.

The Bowie Police Department's Cpl. Bennie Henderson, one of the main organizers from the city police said the biggest reason for the event is so that the community can get to know their police force.

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“Just to see the community out and participating,” Henderson said, was the most rewarding part of seeing the turnout at this years National Night Out. He said everything is donated by local businesses and that there is a committee of volunteers that reaches out to help put the event on.

This year it was a mix of sponsors from last year as well as some new businesses like that participated this year. Another service that the city provided this year that it hadn’t in the past is to run shuttles to and from several locations for senior citizens.

City Communications Manager Una Cooper said that she thought the turnout this year was more than previous events, adding that Cpl. Henderson does a lot of the outreach to get things rolling and the city helps with the logistics of putting on an event of this size.

The Bowie Volunteer Fire Department gave away plastic firefighter helmets for kids and provided information about fire safety to citizens.

Glenn Locker, a spokesperson for the department, said that they had two potential firefighters fill out paperwork at the event, which is something that the department always needs. Especially given that Bowie alone has four firehouses, the need for career and volunteer firefighters is always a factor.

“You never know what kid will get in a fire engine tonight and end up being a firefighter,” he said.

“This is just a good chance to get out in the community on a good day,” Locker said. He added that most people meet firefighters and police officers under less-than-desirable conditions for relationship-building, and the event Tuesday night gave citizens that opportunity.

Bowie’s Chief of Police John Nesky, who was one of two "dunkees" at this years dunk tank—the other being District 3 Councilmember Todd Turner—talked about being splashed into the tank over and over.

“The first ten times, it’s fun,” said Nesky, adding that he had been dunked at least 50 times on Tuesday night. 

“Really, just having a chance to interact with the community on a different basis is great,” he said. “For residents to see officers in a different light and circumstances is the most rewarding part of the event.

 Also be sure to check out our from the event!


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