A fun night for those in attendance offered community members a chance to gather with law enforcement officers and firefighters to learn about how they keep people safe as part of National Night Out.
The event was organized by the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department and the Alliance Police Department, and offered valuable interaction between the community and first responders. AVFD Chief Troy Shoemaker was impressed with the response to the event. He described the benefit of hosting National Night Out.
“I thought it was a really good turnout,” said Shoemaker. “It was certainly a lot of fun. I think our ability to interact with the public in a nonstressful environment, where it’s more casual. You’re not there when they’re having a bad day. It was a great time. It turned out really great.”
APD Chief David Leavitt thought the night was a success, as well, noting the great interactions with the community. He said events like this may inspire the next generation of first responders.
“I think it’s a huge win for the community, to bring the community out and see kids playing games and giving away door prizes and tour the firetrucks and ambulances and the police cars, and just to see the smiles on the kids’ faces, and everybody having a good time and talking,” Leavitt said. “There’s a lot of kids out there who want to be police officers or firefighters when they grow up and they’ve got lots of questions, and they may grow up and remember that police officer, that firefighter, that paramedic that took the time to speak with them, and they may grow up and end up going into one of those professions. So I think anytime we do something that involves the community to that degree, it’s a huge win for public safety in Alliance, and I’m just really proud of what we accomplished.”
Several local businesses were involved in National Night Out this year, Leavitt explained, and he said he is grateful to all of them for their participation in the event. He already has ideas for next year’s National Night Out and hopes to include even more vendors and activities.
