Teaneck—Under a perfectly blue sky on a beautiful summer evening, police officers, military personnel, firefighters, and E.M.T.’s interacted with members of the Teaneck community. The National Night Out, organized by the Teaneck Police Department, is hosted every year on August 4 as part of a national effort to increase drug and crime prevention awareness, generate support for local anti-crime efforts, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. Similar events were held in over 15,000 other communities around the country on Tuesday.
From 5pm to 9pm, children and adults from the Teaneck community gathered at Votee Park to interact with and show their support for the emergency personnel that are essential to keeping Teaneck safe. Music played in the background as children climbed inside police cars and army vehicles, and enjoyed seeing firetrucks and ambulances. People tried on police vests and (safely) held some of the police and military equipment. Many members of the police department, fire department, ambulance corps and military were also present to answer any questions that people had about their respective duties and roles as emergency personnel.
The event attracted people from all over the Teaneck community. “It is wonderful that the community is coming out and spending some time together and seeing what services the town has to offer to them,” a fireman told the Jewish Link.
Some of the vehicles, such as a bomb squad truck and a crime scene unit, had displays inside of them to illustrate how the police utilize the equipment. The bomb squad shared its technologically advanced machinery used to deactivate and safely remove bombs. Similarly, the crime scene unit showed pictures of forensic techniques that police officers use to catch criminals. “I had so much fun, and I even got to try on a police vest!” one excited attendee told the Jewish Link.
In addition to climbing into a myriad of police vehicles and speaking to dozens of personnel, attendees enjoyed an inflatable bounce house and raced around on a blow-up obstacle course. A small train also took people around the park. Other fun activities such as a dunk tank and various arts and crafts booths filled the park as well.
“This event is unique because we bring together all different emergency service groups, community groups and restaurants. So we have the Chamber of Commerce, the fire department, our police department here in Teaneck, and so much more,” a police officer who is one of the organizers of the event said. “We really don’t have other events like this here in Teaneck.”
By Shana Adler
