Police departments, residents connect during ‘National Night Out’

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Law enforcement and residents came together Tuesday for “National Night Out” across the nation and the Tri-State

The annual campaign aims to enhance police-community partnerships.

The Cincinnati Police Department held the event at all four of its districts.

This year’s event comes at a time when public safety and crime have become a top concern for many residents and business owners in light of the viral “violent attack” Downtown on July 26.

“It makes a big difference in the Over-The-Rhine community and any other community that they’re having all over the city,” said Dorron Hunter, Community Outreach Advocate for the Urban League of Greater Southwest Ohio.

National Night Out is a way for law enforcement to connect with the people they serve and protect, said Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge.

“We cannot expect the community to support us if we don’t start developing those relationships early and often,” she said as an officer behind her playfully swung a young child up into the air.

Earlier Tuesday, Cincinnati City Council’s Public Safety and Governance Committee met to discuss ways to reduce violent crime.

Councilman Jeff Cramerding advocated for $2 million to fund increased police visibility.

“So I feel safe Downtown, others feel safe, but some people do not and that has changed over the last ten days,” Cramerding said.

“It’s those people who did feel safe who no longer feel safe. We have to restore their confidence.”

Council passed the motion in hopes of restoring that confidence.

Events like National Night Out can also restore that confidence by allowing residents to meet law enforcement on a personal level, according to the police chief.

“A lot of our interaction with the community is when they need to call 911 or we need to go there for some police action,” she said, “and I think during that interaction some people forget that we’re human beings just like them so this is a great way for them to see us on a whole different level.”

Other city leaders, including Mayor Aftab Pureval, made a stop in Cincinnati Police District 1 in the West End.

In addition to the police department, the SWAT team, Cincinnati Fire Department and Cincinnati Office of the FBI participated in the “National Night Out” event at Ziegler Park in OTR.

“It means a lot because a lot of times the community doesn’t know the resources that they have available,” Hunter said.

Hunter said he believes these events can help kids redirect their focus.

“The main things in these communities, you have to go in and get to know the people, get to know the people who live in those communities and just let them understand that we’re here to help you,” he said.

“Once you establish that communication line where there is trust, I think we’ll do a great job of just having people make a different decision than they would any other circumstance.”

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