Acting Police Chief Mel Ortiz joins some kids in the bounce house at Summit's National Night Out last week. (Photos by Carol McGowan)
Summit police mingle with public at National Night Out
By Carol McGowan
Summit police and firefighters hosted their annual National Night Out last week and entertained residents with games, food and music.
Thousands of communities in the United States and around the world celebrate on the first Tuesday of August as people are asked to turn on outside lights and join first responders to promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity.
In Summit, first responders were at Summit Park from 5-8 p.m.
About 150 residents were treated to hot dogs, chips, water, and free snow cones handed out by village officials, police officers and firefighters.
Acting Police Chief Mel Ortiz even spent some time in a bounce house with some neighborhood children.
Besides the bounce house, there was a dunk tank so residents could soak a police officer, a DJ, face-painting, and fun for all.
The Summit Fire Department was on hand for the kids and the community to see fire trucks and ambulance look like inside.
Ortiz said this year’s event was a success again.
“I thought that the event went very well this year,” he said. “National Night Out is a nice time for the police and village residents to get out and meet each other. They get a chance to engage in a social setting, and interact. It’s a great thing for the kids to meet officers more as friends, so they’re not intimidated should they ever need help.”
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