POUGHKEEPSIE – National Night Out, a nationwide “community-building” effort designed to enhance the relationship between the community and law enforcement in an street fair environment was held Tuesday night in Poughkeepsie.
Other Night Out events were held in the City and Town of Newburgh, City of Middletown and the Town of Wallkill.
The nationwide event takes place on the first Tuesday in August and locally, City of Poughkeepsie Police Officer Karen Zirbel, along with the Police Athletic League and several other agencies and vendors, gathered at city hall.
“It is to promote community engagement with the police department,” Zirbel said.
This year Zirbel and her fellow officers were joined by more than 80 vendors that helped provide a variety of activities for children and their families. In addition to a bouncy-house and face-painting, children were allowed to get a close-up look of a variety of police vehicles, fire apparatus, and were served free hotdogs cooked by members of the police department.
FBI agents were on hand to talk with attendees about their agency and the Junior League of Poughkeepsie was distributing free books for children of all ages.
Community service organizations like Dutchess Outreach had a booth set up to explain the services they offer to the community including a food pantry and access to healthy fresh fruits and vegetables farmed by Dutchess Outreach staff.
The threat of an afternoon rainstorm did not diminish the spirits of the hundreds of families in attendance. With background music provided by DJ Ryan Michael, families participated in a multitude of games and exhibits while elected officials including State Senator Sue Serino, Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, District Attorney William Grady, and County Clerk Brad Kendall introduced themselves to the attendees.
Serino called the event “a tremendously effective way to bring the community and first responders together in a pleasant environment. Officer Zirbel and her fellow officers make this event truly great for Poughkeepsie.”
Zirbel said “this shows people how we can come together as a city.” Zirbel also serves as the School Resource Officer in both the city’s middle and high schools and was enthusiastically greeted by many of the school-age children in attendance.
