Event connects police with community, children

If the smell of food cooking on the grill wasn’t enough to draw families in, the bounce house inside may have done it.

Dozens of families walked through the doors of The Dream Center’s gymnasium, 922 24th St. E., Tuesday night and found it bustling with activity.

Bradenton Police Department’s National Night Out event, started to promote police-community relationships, was in full swing inside by 6 p.m.

Children squealed with delight as they each took a chance inside the Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue inflatable bounce house and slide. Piles of tiny shoes were scattered in front of the entrance where giddy children lined up to eagerly await their turn. Football tossing and and other games eventually formed lines of their own.

Inside, parents and adults stood to side or sat in the bleachers as the energy-filled youngsters dashed from station to station, hoping to be next in line to get their faces painted or win a prize.

Food and shaved ice awaited anyone who ventured out of the gym’s rear doors. Fire engines and police vehicles stood at the ready for children to ask what every button on the dashboard does.

Drawing in the community and promoting camaraderie is exactly what National Night Out events were intended to do. About a dozen events similar to the one at The Dream Center, although smaller, were held throughout Bradenton Tuesday night as part of national and local efforts to expand the event to more communities.

“It gives a chance for residents to come out, ask us questions and for us to answer them in more of an informal setting. It’s a great opportunity to strengthen our ties to the community,” Lt. Brian Thiers, spokesman for the Bradenton Police Department, said.

The police department was joined in the gym by representatives from the Explorer Program, Tobacco Free Florida, Safe Children Coalition, Poison Control and multiple fire departments.

Most parents said they stumbled upon the event at The Dream Center because their children were attending Manatee Mustang practice or attended summer programming at the center.

Nicole Hird’s children, 12 and 9 years old, were there Tuesday night for cheerleading practice. But when they found the event, they decided to check it out.

“Learning how to be nice to others, knowing that the police officers are here to help ... to gain their trust,” Hird said, were important messages. “It seems like a nice event.”

Everett Smalls, who works at The Dream Center, agreed that it was good to see children having positive interactions with law enforcement.

“I think it’s great for the community and the kids, especially with all the craziness going on,” Smalls said. “Let them see they’re here to help if you need help.”

“And of course, if you see something that doesn’t seem right, we ask you just to shoot us a call and let us look at it,” Thiers added.

This story was originally published August 1, 2017 at 8:58 PM with the headline "Event connects police with community, children."