Police officers around Eastern Wisconsin will try to build community during a special day today (August 5th).
Manitowoc and Two Rivers Police are celebrating National Night Out, a nationwide campaign designed to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, making neighborhoods a safer and more caring place to live.
The Manitowoc Police will join activities at the Manitowoc Public Library from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., while the Two Rivers Police will be at Walsh Field from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Manitowoc Police Sergeant Paul Krock says officers will be participating in various activities.
“We’re going to have a few officers there giving a bunch of demonstrations,” he explained. “We’re going to have a mini touch-a-truck. I believe one of our motorcycles will be there, a squad car. The fire department will be there as well with some of their vehicles, an ambulance, and a fire truck.”
Families will also have the opportunity to create a child ID kit, which will contain vital information in case a child goes missing.
In Two Rivers, police will bring K9s Daisy and Xanti and show how the Jaws of Life work. Cool City Crime Prevention will also be flipping burgers, sizzling brats, and grilling hot dogs.
In Sheboygan, the National Night Out celebration is being put together by the Sheboygan County Crime Stoppers and will be held at King Park from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Bill Young, the President of the Organization, says that the current political climate has left many with a negative view of law enforcement.
Young calls National Night Out, “a really excellent way for the community, kids especially, to see that the police and safety agencies are there for them, and that they are their friends, not their enemies.”
Crime Stoppers has worked with the Sheboygan Police Department to put on the Night Out event since 2008, and the public has shown a great response to the partnership.
“Because these organizations don’t usually have an opportunity to interact with the public, this is a great way for, say, a little kid who loves fire trucks to come out and actually sit on a fire truck and talk to a fireman,” Young explained. “Or someone who is in awe of policemen and police squad cars. They can come sit in a squad car and see what (it) is like.”
For more information on the National Night Out initiative, visit NATW.org.
