CENTRAL JERSEY: Police departments planning for fun on National Night Out

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Aiming to bring the police departments and the communities they serve closer together, area police departments are joining their counterparts nationwide to host the 33rd annual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 2.
Established in 1984, National Night Out was developed as a crime prevention program that seeks to build a partnership between the police and the community. It was created by the National Association of Town Watch, which is a crime prevention group.
The Princeton, West Windsor, Plainsboro and Lawrence police departments have planned an assortment of activities designed to bring out residents to spend some time with police officers — sharing food, music and a good time.
The Princeton Police Department, Police Benevolent Association Local 130 and the Princeton Recreation Deaprtment have joined hands for the annual Princeton Community Night Out, which will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Community Park Pool. It is located at 380 Witherspoon St.
The Community Park Pool will be open free of charge to all attendees, who can munch on free hot dogs and bottled water. There will be souvenir giveaways and ice cream.
Children can climb the 24-foot-high rock wall, dunk police officers in the dunk tank and also jump around on inflatable games. There will be face painting and a balloon artist, too, for the youngsters.
The Princeton Police Department, the Princeton Fire Department and the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad will show off various emergency tools and equipment. Harris, the Police Department’s K9 dog, will demonstrate the types of service he offers to the community.
In Lawrence, the Police Department is sponsoring National Night Out from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the lawn in front of the Municipal Building on Route 206. Police officers will hold a cookout, and the Lawrence Road Fire Co. and the Lawrence Township EMS will be on hand, too.
There will be inflatable games for children and booths set up by nonprofit groups. Music will be provided by Tony Stacey and Mario Greatti and the Papa Delux and the Main Street Groove.
The West Windsor Township Police Department and Police Benevolent Association Local 271 is holding National Night Out from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at West Windsor Community Park at 193 Princeton-Hightstown Road (Route 571).
There will be food, music, inflatables for children and a guest appearance from 94.5 WPST. The U.S. Army’s Blackhawk helicopter is expected to swoop in for the children.
And in Plainsboro Township, the Police Department has set its version of National Night Out from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Morris Davison Park at 780 Plainsboro Road. The community-wide gathering will feature live music, kiddie rides, a car show, bicycle safety checks and a local emergency services equipment display. 