County gets in the spirit of National Night Out
HAVERFORD » It was an important night Tuesday, said Haverford Police Chief John Viola, for residents to come out and embrace the power of their community and to show support to local members of the local fire, safety and rescue.
Held in the Quarry Center on Township Line Road, the annual National Night Out came just hours after Haverford and the Philadelphia police identified a suspect in last weekend’s shooting death of a Narberth man on Haverford Road.
“This has a special meaning because of what happened over the weekend,” said Viola, whose department has been tirelessly searching for the suspect and looking for support from the community.
For the hundreds who visited Tuesday evening, they found barbeque and Italian ice, a show featuring the obedient and master training of the Haverford Police K-9 Unit, opportunities for kids to crawl through police vehicles and wear tactical gear.
“They love it,” said mother Gina Burrit, of Havertown, whose son Gabriel, 3, was having a blast climbing around a police cruise and wailing on the horn. “They get to see police in a family-friendly, relaxed environment”
Viola said that the community needn’t be worry about the weekend incident; rather they should enjoy the National Night Out for its wholesome fun.
“There’s a sense of relief now,” Viola said. “This is a great community and this came at the right time to get everyone out for the evening.”
County District Attorney Jack Whelan said the search for the suspect, probing witness testimony and fielding tips, has been tireless in the days since the slaying of John Le.
State Rep. Jamie Santora, R-163 of Upper Darby, said the search for the suspect has not deterred the residents from the Haverford area from enjoying a pleasant summer evening.
“When something happens in our community, we’re not afraid to come out,” Santora said. “That’s what’s great about Haverford, and this is just another example of our police helping to bring our community together.”