Night Out fosters familiarity with police, fire departments
BUTLER TWP — Residents of Farmington Drive may have been a bit shaken by the horn of a firetruck or seeing a team of tiny firefighters tearing down the street in full gear Tuesday night.
That’s because the Woodbury Estates neighborhood was invited to get acquainted with township police officers and firefighters at the township’s observance of National Night Out.
The event is an opportunity for law enforcement and public servants nationwide to meet the communities they serve.
Dave Zarnick, township commissioner, said that upon discovering the event eight years ago, he thought it would be good to hold locally.
“It’s community relations and an opportunity to recruit for the fire department,” he said. “It’s a way to meet us on the street. That way, they can recognize police and members of the fire department.”
John Hays, chief of township police, said the feedback they hear for these events is positive.
“I think it gives the public a chance to see us as people, not just someone driving by or pulling you over,” he said. “Especially now how things are, they get to put a face with their officers.”
Neighbors gathered around the police cars, heard explanations about the equipment inside and asked questions about the force.
Down the road, Stephanie Steele-Morris, firefighter for Butler Township Volunteer Fire District, showed children and parents the inside of the firetruck.
“I definitely like meeting all the people,” she said. “People always have questions but are too scared to ask us. At community events like this, it’s more laid back.”
Steele-Morris facilitated races with groups of neighborhood children, testing who could put on fireman gear the fastest.
Riley McGuire, 12, dressed the fastest out of his friend group and received a sticker.
“It was really heavy and sweaty,” Riley said, after running down the road in the outfit. “But it was really cool.”
Riley added that he enjoyed looking inside the police vehicles during the event.
“It’s cool. They have a computer and glass on the inside separating the back from the front. And there’s no handles on the doors in the back,” he said.
Jim and Barb Direnzo decided to attend because of how close it was to their house. They brought their 18-month-old grandson, Alex, to experience it too.
“We thought he’d enjoy it,” Barb said of Alex. “He saw the firetruck and went ‘OOOO!’”
She said it was fun to see so many neighbors out for the occasion.
“It’s nice of the department to take the time out to do this,” she said. “We learned there are stipends for firefighters. We always thought it was very difficult to have a volunteer agency, and (Steele-Morris) confirmed that.”
Lt. James Senople said showing off the firefighting equipment helps attract recruits.
“Volunteering is a dying breed. One reason we do this is to recruit the younger generation,” Senople said. “The children like the lights and sirens, and we do have adults that go crazy over that stuff.”
Police officer Matthew Pearson agreed that the youngsters who attend make the event what it is.
“When you come into a housing development like this, (people) see us driving past but don’t get to talk to us,” he said. “This is a chance to stop and talk. The younger kids coming now, we like to talk to the younger generation especially.”
Scott McGuire, Riley’s father, said he had never been to a National Night Out event before, but he sees the benefit of it.
“I think it’s always good to meet the people who protect our community,” he said.
