National Night Out events shine amid rainy weather
Published 10:00 am Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Pictured is a group photo of those in attendance at the Ward 5 location of the city of Franklin’s National Night Out event on Tuesday, Oct. 1. (Photo courtesy of Ward 5)
Southampton County Sheriff Josh A. Wyche Sr., center, and members of his office and the community gather for a photo during the National Night Out event at the Franklin-Southampton County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, Oct. 1. (Photo courtesy of the Southampton County Sheriff's Office)
New Franklin City Manager Rosylen Oglesby, center, and Franklin Police Department Chief Steve Patterson, right of center, interact with people at the Northwoods location of the city of Franklin’s National Night Out event on Oct. 1. (Photo courtesy of Northwoods)
Police vehicles gather on the Franklin-Southampton County Fairgrounds and put on a show with their emergency lights for those in attendance at the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office’s National Night Out event on Oct. 1. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
A group of Boy Scouts gather for a photo with Franklin Police Department officers at the Armory Park Complex location of the city of Franklin’s National Night Out event on Oct. 1. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
McGruff the Crime Dog interacts with a dog during the National Night Out event at the Franklin-Southampton County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, Oct. 1. (Photo courtesy of the Southampton County Sheriff's Office)
Children play on an inflatable Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Armory Park Complex location of the city of Franklin’s National Night Out event. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Some children interact with a Franklin police officer at the Northwoods location of the city of Franklin’s National Night Out event on Tuesday, Oct. 1. (Photo courtesy of Northwoods)
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The primary law enforcement agencies in the city of Franklin and in Southampton County afforded the public opportunities to interact with them and build relationships on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and the public came out to participate across five different locations, despite some rainy weather.
The occasion was National Night Out, which is described at natw.org as “an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.”
The Southampton County Sheriff’s Office held its NNO event at the Franklin-Southampton County Fairgrounds in Courtland.
That event had a variety of features, including vendors, a bounce house, an assembly of police vehicles that turned their lights on in unison to create a striking light show, an outdoor firefighter demonstration and more.
“I think that the main feature was the different law enforcement agencies that were representing our local area,” Southampton County Sheriff Josh A. Wyche Sr. said. “We were able to have law enforcement representation from the Franklin Police Department, Courtland Police Department, Sussex County Sheriff’s Office, Greensville County Sheriff’s Office, Surry County Sheriff’s Office, Suffolk Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Conservation Police.”
Wyche said he thought the event was excellent considering the weather forecast that night.
“We were fortunate to be at a venue with enough space to move everything inside,” he said.
He estimated that at least 500 or more people came by or participated in the event.
Meanwhile in Franklin, NNO was experienced across four different locations, including the Armory Park Complex, Hunterdale Volunteer Fire Department, the Northwoods community and Ward 5.
“Overall, I feel that with the weather and having four events citywide, it went very well,” Franklin Police Department Chief Steve Patterson said of Franklin’s NNO showing. “We are thankful to Hunterdale Volunteer Fire Department, Northwoods community, and Ward 5 for hosting events within the communities they represent.”
Patterson estimated attendance from all four events was at about 300 people.
“The thing I enjoyed the most was seeing the citizens who reside within the communities getting together,” he said. “Getting to know each other, putting a face with a name, and working together to make their community better.”
Wyche said, “Anytime we can bring our community together and put a smile on a kid’s face, that is the most enjoyable part for me.”
