NYPD celebrates annual National Night Out
PHOTO VIA TWITTER/@NYPD7PCT
Cops and community members together at the 7th Precinct National
Night Out on the Lower East Side.
PHOTO VIA TWITTER/@NYPD9PCT
Manhattan DA Cy Vance with Captain Ralph Clement and Shawn
McMahon, NYPD Chief of Crime Strategies Unit.
BY DEAN MOSES
After a one-year hiatus due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, the
National Night Out Against
Crime returned across the Five
Boroughs on Aug. 3, with the goal of
bringing cops and the communities
they serve closer together.
The annual event takes place on a
national level with police departments
throughout the United States and
Canada, and is intended to strengthen
relationships between communities
and offi cers through food, games and
crime prevention information.
The event was back in full swing on
Tuesday evening throughout parks and
other open-air locations.
After a year that has seen police and
public relations strained, civilians and
those in uniform joined together to
have some fun.
At the National Night Out in Lower
Manhattan’s South Street Seaport,
the 1stPrecinct commemorated the
occasion with a live DJ, cotton candy,
popcorn, painting, and other free
activities for children at 89 South
Street.
Business owners, community groups,
members of Transit District 2 and local
residents excitedly greeted one another
as Captain Thomas P. Smith of the
1stPrecinct kicked of the event with a
short speech.
“Building a strong community is a
shared responsibility and together we
can make this happen,” Smith told the
crowd.
Smith became the captain of the
1stPrecinct in December and shared
that he is excited to begin fostering a
strong relationship between offi cers
and the neighborhood through monthly
community council meetings, quarterly
Build the Block meetings, social media
platforms, and various programs
wherein offi cers venture into the fi eld
and meet with residents.
A representative from the mayor’s
offi ce was also present to provide a
proclamation for the Night Out event.
Similar to the Lower Manhattan
event, the 13th Precinct held their
own affair in Gramercy, hosting their
Night Out at the Augustus St. Gaudeus
Playground on 20th Street and Second
Avenue.
Here, families and community
members of all ages were treated
to freshly grilled hamburgers and
hotdogs. Not only that, on site artists
sketched free caricatures for attendees
to take home.
While the adults discussed the
neighborhood with NYPD offi cials, the
sound of laughter echoed from a bouncy
castle fi lled with elated children. There
was even balloon swords and fl owers
created.
At both locations, and events all
around the city, the NYPD offered free
books and other gifts for those who
choose to spend the night with their
local precincts.
PHOTO VIA TWITTER/@NYPD6PCT
The 6th Precinct celebrates its night out in the Village, with Democratic
City Council nominee Erik Bottcher among the participants.
PHOTO VIA TWITTER/@NYPD7PCT
City Council Member Carlina Rivera presented proclamations to the
7th Precinct during its Night Out on the Lower East Side.
4 August 5, 2021 Schneps Media