Naugatuck Police Dept. Presents National Night Out [Photos]

Naugatuck - The Naugatuck Police Department hosted the biggest party of the summer on Tuesday evening at Linden Park.

The event was presented free to the public, thanks to the generous donations of local businesses that had been highlighted on the NPD Facebook page during the weeks before.

Families joined the members of the police department for some really good free food, raffles, demonstrations and more.

Volunteers grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, served with chips, water and soda. Other tables offered fried dough, pizza, and cotton candy, and an ice cream bus served up ice cream sundaes to order. Children earned raffle tickets for interacting with members of the police department that they were then able to place in the raffle of their choice.

Perhaps the biggest draw were the #teamNPD K9s. All three of the hardworking dogs were at Linden Park for National Night Out.

K9 Indy, the departments service Black Labrador, was meeting and greeting everyone. K9 Judge, the resident narcotics Black Labrador K9 (pictured above,) conducted two demonstrations with his partner Officer Pinho, while Patrol German Shepherd K9 Tommy conducting two demonstrations with his partner Officer Klosky. K9 Tommy has stepped up to fill the position formerly held by K9 Vane, who recently passed away after many years of service to the borough.

All three of the dogs waited for their time in the spotlight in their respective partners' air conditioned patrol cars, equipped with an alarm if the temperature became too hot inside.

There were also other police equipment, vehicles, and specialized units for children and adults to learn more about. Many service organization had tables from which to distribute information. The youngest attendees got to bounce around in a bounce house, climb a rock wall, get their face painted, or try to hit the target and dunk a police officer in the dunk tank. A DJ provided the music.

All photos by Naugatuck/Bethwood Patch Mayor Nancy Sasso Janis