Community Corner

'Night Out' With Police at Mennen Arena

Event-goers can observe police Equestrian Unit and motorcycle show.

By Dan Gunderman

The tenth annual National Night Out will make its return to Mennen Sports Arena in Morris Township from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 6.

Fire, police and rescue units will be on hand to "demonstrate a wide range of skills and equipment used in providing the multitude of emergency services available to the Morris County community," according to a news release on Morris County’s website.

Also, representatives from a wide range of state and federal law enforcement agencies will be on hand, to help residents become acclimated with the officers and agents who work to keep them safe on a daily basis.

Some of those agencies include: the United States Army and Coast Guard, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Secret Service. 

Free Food, Horse Demos and More!

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“The Morris County National Night Out for the past six years has received national recognition because it offers a comprehensive array of participating agencies to educate the public on available community services,” said Lt. David Doyle of the Morris County Park Police in a release.

“The event offers all of that, plus an evening of free food, drinks, ice skating, attractions and giveaways,” he said.

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According to that same release, the most popular part of the evening is the free Child ID program, launched in 2000, which registers more than 1,000 children annually, according to Doyle.

Also available are visits to the horses of the Morris County Park Police’s Mounted Equestrian Unit as well as demonstrations, and observance of a police motorcycle show and corresponding demonstration.

Nationwide Outing

The framework for the national event came years ago, from Matt Peskin, who now serves as the National Project Coordinator for the ‘holiday.’

“Basically, people nowadays don’t know their neighbors,” said Peskin in an interview earlier this month. “That’s just how society is. But these areas become vulnerable to crime.”

Not only will Morris County be hosting its own version of the National Night Out, but the event is national in scope — 16,000 communities across all 50 states, territories, Canadian cities and military bases partake in it.

It is run by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, and promotes partnerships between community members and the police departments that patrol them. 

For other towns, counties, organizations, etc. around the country which hold a National Night Out celebration, residents are asked to keep lights on, start block parties, shepherd in parades and create relationships with neighbors to help law enforcement become stoutly more cohesive.

“In the 1940s, 50s and 60s, everyone left their doors open, children stayed out until 9 p.m. and people looked out for each other,” Peskin said. “With people meeting each other, involving the police departments, it kind of brings back the atmosphere of the good old days.”

NATW, the association which coordinates and facilitates the event, according to its website, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development and promotion of various crime prevention programs. Much of their work centers on partnerships with law enforcement and civilian leaders, to promote relevant knowledge for crime watch volunteers.

Since 1981, they have served thousands, and today their work is seen in communities across the entire nation.

They were responsible for introducing “America’s Night Out Against Crime” in 1984, in an effort to spread awareness for neighborhood crime and promotion of watchdog groups that had the sometimes-daunting task of keeping the neighborhood safe.

Peskin was responsible for contriving the idea, and it began with 2.5 million Americans participating across 400 communities in 23 states.

“It was a bit of a struggle at first,” said Peskin. “It was difficult getting chiefs from the big cities to come aboard, they thought we were nuts.”

Since these early days of symbolic porch-front vigils and grassroots attempts to forge relationships with law enforcement, it has become a welcomed celebration within communities that involves tight-knit, productive relationships.

“There’s great things that come out of this,” said Peskin. “We even get hundreds of calls after the event from people who said they’ve met their neighbors and new people.”

For more information on Morris County’s version of the ‘Night Out,’ go to www.morrisparks.net.


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