ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.—On July 26, Englewood Cliffs once again held its National Night Out program, a family friendly event that upholds the tradition of law enforcement fostering community spirit.
National Night Out is a nationwide community-police awareness-raising event held the first Tuesday of August. It is a venue for community members throughout the country to spend a safe evening with emergency personnel from their communities.
Residents get an opportunity to speak one-on-one and establish a rapport with local law enforcement and emergency responders. Demographics show that when police have a strong connection to their community, they are better able to cut crime and drug use.
According to Chief William Henkelman, “National Night Out has been a long standing tradition in Englewood Cliffs for over 19 years, and it is one of the highlights of the year for both the police department and the community. It’s a great night to get to know the residents outside of the badge and our uniform.”
Sgt. Ron Waldt said, “The kids love it and it establishes a great relationship that continues throughout the year.”
This year’s National Night Out in Englewood Cliffs was attended by over 300 residents for continuous activities from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in and around the parking lot of the Police Station and Municipal Building.
Enhancing the informal and friendly nature of the event, many police officers came with their families.
People of all ages, from young children to seniors, enjoyed mingling with law enforcement and first responders. The event was organized by Sgt. Nickolas Drimones and Capt. Brian Murphy.
Councilmembers Ed Aversa and Ellen Park also strolled through the fest and chatted with residents.
Aversa said, “Just look at the crowd here tonight! The community comes out to support the police and the police support the community. It a beautiful thing!”
The evening provided information as well as fun. On site to meet and greet the residents were 15 ECPD police officers, a team of ECFD volunteer firefighters and several members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Hostage Negotiation Team, all of whom had volunteered their time. They spoke with residents and demonstrated how they risk their lives to keep the community safe. One such example was a dramatic video of dangerous car chases that most people never see or hear about in the news.
The atmosphere of the program was lively, thanks to the music by The Rummies. Capt. Murphy, the featured singer of the group sang 20 classic rock and folk songs, such as “Sultans of Swing,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and ”Peace Love and Understanding.”
Residents were also treated to delicious food and drinks which had been donated by Giovanni’s Bicycle Club, the Brownstone restaurant and ShopRite Supermarkets in Englewood and two neighboring towns. Unilever supplied ice cream treats.
Everyone lined up at the buffet where police officers grilled burgers and franks. There were also tables with pizza, wraps, pasta, and chicken wings. With plates heaped high, they ate and socialized in friendly groups at tables that had been set up outdoors under large tents. Families, seniors and teens all found favorite locations to chow down together.
Later in the evening, there was an exciting demonstration by the Englewood Cliffs Volunteer Fire Department. A huge crowd watched them break through the glass of a car with hammers and the Jaws-of-Life to extricate a “trapped motor vehicle accident victim.”
There were special attractions for children, including games, a huge bouncy house, an inflated basketball court with multiple hoops, arts and crafts, face painting and tattooing.
A Night to Remember
National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) in the United States and Canada. It was created in 1984 to raise awareness of police programs in communities, such as drug prevention, town watch, neighborhood watch, and other anti-crime efforts.
NATW is a nonprofit, crime prevention organization which works in cooperation with thousands of crime watch groups and law enforcement agencies throughout the country. NATW’s network includes over 6,500 crime, drug and violence prevention organizations.
National Night Out, originally called “America’s Night out Against Crime,” takes place on the first Tuesday in August. The program was the brainchild of NATW Executive Director Matt A. Peskin.
National Night Out events can include everything from meetings to full blown festivals, and they are usually organized by police departments, but they may also be hosted by non-profit organizations and community watch groups.
In 1984, National Night Out began very simply in 400 communities in 23 U.S. States. In most communities, it was a “lights on” vigil and some basic information being delivered to the community. However, in subsequent years, participation grew steadily. In 2016, National Night Out was hosted by 38 million residents in 16,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide.
