In a tradition that has spanned 30 years, safety and crime prevention came together Aug. 5 at National Night Out in Gillett. Families, friends and neighbors learned about neighborhood safety programs and connected with local police officers and firefighters.
“I think it’s a good event because the community members get to know the Police Department and the officers one-on-one versus somebody that’s just in a squad car or behind a badge,” Gillett Police Chief Jess Keplinger said.
He said it’s a great opportunity to speak to locals about what is happening in the community.
Angela Rickaby, who has coordinated a neighborhood watch for 31 years and helps plan National Night Out, said she loves to see community members get involved in the safety program. She and three other members of the neighborhood watch held the National Night Out in their backyards until it grew in popularity.
“We graduated to (Zippel Park) because we got so big,” Rickaby said.
National Night Out is now sponsored by the Gillett Police Department through two funds that receive citation money collected by the city. Neighborhood watch captains throughout the city volunteer to help promote and run the event.
Tim Magnin, the county’s emergency management director, opened this year’s event with a presentation about the county’s CodeRED notification system. The system allows residents to receive automatic alerts for severe weather, emergency evacuations, fire activities, hazardous materials operations and active shooters.
“We can get messages all the way out around the address where the incident is taking place,” Magnin said. “We can do a certain block, we can do a whole street, or we can even alert the whole community or county.”
After the presentation, a potluck dinner was held before the Eagle III rescue helicopter touched down in the park, allowing community members a chance to speak to the pilots and look at the helicopter.
The night closed with a K-9 unit demonstration, in which a police dog searched for narcotics and apprehended a “criminal.”
Gillett Police Sgt. Dennis Heise said the educational and social aspects of National Night Out are important for the community.
“A lot of people weren’t even aware that the CodeRED system was out there, and to get to know your neighbors, that’s a lot of it,” Heise said. “ I think in our society nowadays people just don’t get to know their neighbors.”
Rickaby said the neighborhood watch program has helped prevent crime in Gillett.
“We have kept the community safer,” she said. “I do neighborhood watch out of my living room window. People feel free to call me if they have a problem, and I help handle that with the Police Department.”
Heise said Gillett will continue to participate in National Night Out.
“It’s all about watching your neighborhood,” he said.
Categories
