LAURINBURG — Law enforcement officers from the city and county joined residents Tuesday combining fun and community policing efforts during National Night Out.
The annual community event, always held the first Tuesday in August, is intended as outreach to familiarize residents with local law enforcement and gives party goers access to law enforcement outside of their regular roles enforcing the law or assisting victims.
Laurinburg Police Chief Darwin Williams is confident that the message doesn’t get lost in the fun.
“We communicate with the youth and show them how to be adults,” Williams said. “We need to teach the next generation how to love. We still have hope; people need to look in the mirror and ask themselves, ‘What can I do to improve Laurinburg, Scotland County and myself?”
Scotland County Sheriff Ralph Kersey shares the sentiment and believes the event will work to prevent crime. He praised the effort the city put into the event.
“It’s a good opportunity for fellowship and to meet people we don’t normally see day to day,” Kersey said. “If people can see the chief and I working closely together, like some of the operations we’ve recently had, and that we’re trying to make Laurinburg a better place.”
Representatives from Laurinburg Police Department, Scotland County Sheriff’s Office, Scotland County Probation and Parole, N.C. Wildlife, Scotland County EMS, the Laurinburg Fire Department, and the State Highway Patrol were on hand foster community spirit and help fight crime.
Teens from the Police Explorers Club were on hand to pass out tickets for door prizes including Walmart gift cards and gas cards to Nic’s Pic Kwik.
Residents generally seemed to agree it was a good event, especially for the youth.
“It’s a good thing; we’re always talking about how they need to get kids something to do to keep them off the streets and from doing bad things,” said Brittany Locklear who came out with her mother, Carolyn Locklear, niece and nephews to enjoy the evening.
Jim Rush, who retired from the Laurinburg Post Office, came to the event with his wife and believes in the message the day promotes.
“It’s beautiful,” Rush said. “Its one of the best things they can do, a a community function where people can get together, associate, relax and have a good time.”
This year’s community block party was held on the site of the former Pope’s Department store on Cronly Street.
Little ones could get their faces painted, get temporary tattoos, jump in bounce houses, dunk a sheriff’s deputy at the Sheriff’s Office’s dunking booth or meet McGruff the crime dog and officials from the fire department and other first responders.
“It’s good to get the kids out; we need to keep them involved until they go back to school,” said William Swift who comes to the gathering every year.
The were also educational opportunities like the fatal vision course or “beer goggles booth” and a safety house.
The Fighting Scots football team held a meet-and-greet during the event and the Scotland High School Cheerleaders performed to open the night.
Krazy Feet cloggers showed off their updated clogging moves set to modern music, and a mime team from Cross Pointe Church ministered to the crowd.
Vendors from Zaxby’s and local churches including Northview Harvest Ministries and Lighthouse Ministry offered hot dogs, chips, sno-cones and assorted foods.
Richard Tyson served as DJ spinning tunes from classic Motown to 80s hits like the electric slide and the more recent cupid shuffle.
Adults and kids joined local officials and law enforcement officers to cut the proverbial rug the using the foundation of the old department store as a dance floor.
Sgt. Shawn Chavis, Lt. Alonzo Spruill and Sgt. Zachary Vanhorn planned this year’s night out.
“I just enjoy working with the community and this is a bigger opportunity to do so. I though it would be neat and rewarding and exciting to do with with the whole department,” Chavis said of his efforts.
Maxton also held its annual National Night Out party at Beachum Park. The town has been participating in the event for over 15 years, according to Police Chief Tammy Deese.
Maxton offered residents pizza, slushies, cookies and hot dogs.
Visitors could ride a train around the park walking track, play a tactical game of laser tag or have fun on bouncers and water slides.
Planners prepared for 1,000 people this year, according to Deese.
Deese believes these events are more vital now than ever.
“It’s important to hold celebrations like this because the nation is going through so many things now that involve law enforcement officers,” Deese said. “It’s important that we hold positive events. Fighting crime takes a collaborative effort between us businesses and the citizens; the police can’t do it alone anymore.”
National Night Out was first held in 1984 to promote community involvement in crime prevention. The events are sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. Over 38.3 million people in 16,728 communities from across the United States, U.S. territories, Canada and military bases around the world participate, according to the organization.
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