POLICE CONNECT WITH COMMUNITIES

Local law enforcement officers celebrate with neighbors as part of national program

About 75 people, including state lawmakers and municipal officials from Kennett Square and Kennett Township celebrated National Night Out Tuesday night. This year, the event was named after former Kennett Square Police Chief Ed Zunino, who died recently.

The event was held on Linden Street in Kennett Square, which for years was crime-ridden and a favorite of drug dealers. But that changed after Linden Street resident Teresa Bass challenged police to do something about it. Today, police officers stop by every week and read to the children there.

“A lot of the kids know our (officers) by their first names, or nicknames,” said Bill Holdsworth, Kennett Square police chief. “It’s just amazing the relationships that have been built. It’s phenomenal.”

Kennett Township police officers also were on hand, and interacted with the children.

“When people look at communities and how communities are built, this is an example here because we have everybody here who cares,” said Lydell Nolt, Kennett Township police chief. “We have the school district here, kids here, parents here, nonprofits here, police officers here, state representatives here, the fire department here. This is what a community is.”

Alicia Jones, CEO of LaComunidad Hispana, a nonprofit

organization that provides emotional and financial assistance to needy individuals, spoke of the importance of police building relationships with the community.

“Ed Zunino came to LCH every Wednesday and sat in the building with kids and built community and built trust,” she said. “It meant a lot to us. His legacy lives on in this community.”

Ethan Cramer, a Kennett Square councilman who helped to increase the quality of life on Linden Street, said Kennett’s National Night Out is a bit different from others.

“This is not about rides or closing down a drug corner for a night,” he said. “This is about how there is a relationship between the community and the police. This event is the most diverse event Kennett Square has.”

Coatesville area

Coatesville Police Chief Jack Laufer, Sgt. Rodger Ollis and Officer Matthew DiEmedio teamed up with South Coatesville Police Chief Kevin Pierce to hand out free water ice on Tuesday from Rita’s Water Ice as part of the national event. Pierce, who owns a store in Gap, donated the water ice handed out from the Coatesville Police Department’s “Chillin with the Community” water ice truck. They made a few rounds in Coatesville City and South Coatesville Borough.

Additionally, Ollis handed out 24 bicycle helmets, provided by Chester County Safe Kids Coalition, to the children who gathered at the truck. Many of the children had been riding bikes at the time. Ollis helped the children readjust the helmet to fit them and said, “The last thing I want is for you to get hurt.”

Jessica Rivera gave her children bikes earlier this summer as a reward. She appreciated that her two sons, Jadryel Rivera, 2, and Iahn Rivera, 4, received helmets. It was good timing for Jadryel.

“His helmet was too small and this one fits perfectly,” she said.

“He’s always helping out,” Rivera said about Ollis.

Rita Knight plans to give her grandson, Noah, a helmet because he doesn’t have one. She praised the Coatesville police for their acts of kindness throughout the year.

“I love when the cops do something for the kids,” Knight said. “It melts my heart. The fact that they take the time to do this means a lot.”

Coatesville police additionally distributed gun locks, gun safety pamphlets, tip by text (Tip 411) reference cards, Domestic Violence Center information, Drug Abuse Recovery Services information and child safety seat information.

Tuesday night’s event was part of a national effort in August known as the National Night Out. The National Night Out, part of “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” first appeared in 1984 with an effort to promote “involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back,” according to the National Association of Town Watch, the nonprofit which runs the event.

The association rolled out the annual event in 1984. That year, 2.5 million people took part in the event in 400 communities across 23 states.

FRAN MAYE – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Alicia Jones, CEO of La Comunida Hispana, talks to a Kennett Square girl about the positive interaction she has with police officers, as Kennett Square Ptl. Todd looks on.

FRAN MAYE – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA State Rep. Steve Barrar, R-160, right, talks with Kennett Township Police Chief Lydell Nolt during Kennett Square’s National Night Out Tuesday night.

GINGER RAE DUNBAR – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Coatesville Sgt. Rodger Ollis hands out bicycle helmets, provided by Chester County Safe Kids Coalition, to children who gathered at the National Night Out event.

BILL RETTEW JR. – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The Abraham sisters, Julia, left, Anna and Abby, check out the equipment at National Night Out in West Chester.

BILL RETTEW JR. – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Hundreds attended National Night Out in West Chester at Henderson High School.

FRAN MAYE – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Kennett Square children and police officers discuss the ways the community has benefitted from a positive interaction with police on Tuesday night.

FRAN MAYE – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Police officers and children interact Tuesday night in Kennett Square during National Night Out.

GINGER RAE DUNBAR – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Coatesville Officer Matthew DiEmedio serves free Rita’s Water Ice to children who gathered at the National Night Out event.

FRAN MAYE – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The Zunino family, and Lois Zunino, far right, during Kennett Square’s National Night Out Tuesday night. The event has been named in honor of former Kennett Square Police Chief Ed Zunino, who died recently.