Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
CREATING A ‘POSITIVE EXPERIENCE’
National Night Out community-building campaign promotes police-community partnerships
Many children who are prospective law enforcement officials enjoyed meeting police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel at their respective National Night Out events.
Hunter Mitchell, of West Chester, dressed up in his SWAT uniform, a gift he received for his birthday. Mitchell, who is going into kindergarten, wants to be a part of SWAT when he grows up. His passion for law enforcement comes from his father, who serves as a police officer.
His favorite part of the event in West Chester was meeting K9 Mattie with the Chester County Sheriff’s Office.
“They have some great stuff,” his mother, Marilyn Mitchell said. The pair had also checked out the police vehicles from the West Chester Borough Police Department, West Goshen Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, as well as West Chester Fire Department firetrucks on display at the event at B. Reed Henderson High School. Hunter described the event as “pretty cool.”
“National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live,” the National Night Out website states. “National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.”
In Coatesville, the Chester County Food Bank provided a healthy dinner and the South Coatesville Police Department donated five gallons of Rita’s Italian Ice which was delivered in the Coatesville Police Department’s “Chillin with the Community” water ice truck.
South Coatesville Police Chief Kevin Pierce, Coatesville Police Chief Jack Laufer, and Coates
ville Officer Tyler Famous handed out the water ice in Coatesville City and in South Coatesville Borough. Young adults and children were excited to see them and they engaged in a conversation while the police served them the water ice flavor of their choice.
“It creates a positive experience,” Famous said. “It might be all that it takes to change the way someone views us.”
Several police officers stopped by the area to talk with the children who had been playing outside during the event. Coatesville Sgt. Rodger Ollis said that such community policing events can help the public to build trust with them as a police officer, and it also “forges valuable relationships.”
Staff Sgt. Michael Coletta, a recruiter with the National Guard, talked with the children at the Coatesville event and he also assisted the police in serving the water ice. Many of the children asked him about his experiences during his 11 years of service.
“We’re here to have a face in the community because when a disaster hits, we’re the ones out there helping, and assisting law enforcement,” Coletta said.
Eliezer Pflueger, 8, of West Chester, already knows he wants to join the military. He found the booth in West Chester with the Pennsylvania National Guard and began a conversation. Pflueger is going into second grade and the recruiter present told him that was the same age that he knew he wanted to join the military. Pflueger owns has different uniforms he dresses up in, including military, police and SWAT.
“It’s something he’s always had a love for,” his mom, Maryann Pflueger, said. “It’s like genetics. His grandfather is a Vietnam War veteran and his great grandfather served in the military.”
The first National Night Out in 1984 involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states. Today, millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August.