Riverhead marks National Night Out with a celebration in the town square Tuesday

Riverhead Town held its first National Night Out celebration in the town square on Main Street Tuesday evening.

The event, sponsored by the Riverhead Town Police Department Crime Prevention Unit, offered residents of all ages a chance to visit with police officers, enjoy a free barbecue, refreshments, free ice cream courtesy of Suffolk Federal Credit Union, games and activities, including a dunk tank courtesy of the Rotary Club of Riverhead, K-9 and drone demonstrations, and the display of police vehicles and equipment and a visit by McGruff the Crime Dog.

National Night Out promotes strong police-community partnerships and neighborhood unity to help build safer, more connected communities. It’s a night dedicated to strengthening the bond between law enforcement and the people they serve. It aims to generate support for and participation in anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community programs.

The event traces its roots back to community watch programs in the Philadelphia suburbs in the early 1980s.  National Night Out was introduced in August of 1984 through an already established network of law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civic groups, state and regional crime prevention associations and volunteers across the nation, according to the National Night Out website. In the years since, it has grown to include more than 17,000 communities across the United States.

Riverhead Town also sponsors a National Night Out poster contest each year, with the winners awarded certificates of achievement and prizes.  The contest is open to all the children who attend the Riverhead Town summer camp program. 

Caption: National night out award photo: L-R Emma Smith; Ethan Mauro; Olivia Edington ; Elisia Williams ; Mallory Ferrara ; Mila Novosabska; Claire Cocanower.

The Crime Prevention Unit and McGruff the Crime Dog visit the summer camp program to give a presentation on the importance of neighborhood and home safety, Riverhead Police Lt. Jonathan Deveraux said. The campers make the posters after the presentation and judges pick first, second and third place winners in each of three age groups, the lieutenant explained.

Deveraux and Chief of Police Ed Frost announced the winners and handed out the certificates and awards at Tuesday afternoon’s Town Board meeting, where the winning posters were on display.

5-6 year old group:  first place, Mallory Ferrara; second place, Olivia Edington; third place, Elisia Williams.

7-8 year old age group:  first place, Averie Jayne; second place, Ethan Mauro; third place, Colin Dennis.

9-12 year old group: first place, Mila Novosabska;  second place,  Claire Cocanower;third place, Emma Smith.

The awards officially kick off National Night Out and “give crime a going-away party,” Deveraux said.

RiverheadLOCAL/ Emil Breitenbach Jr.