IMAGE GALLERY: City Celebrates National Night Out

City residents in 21 neighborhoods joined Portsmouth Police officers and city officials to celebrate Portsmouth's 18th National Night Out on Tuesday.

In neighborhoods that included Richards Avenue, Four Tree Island where the Friends of the South End gathered, Atlantic Heights, Gosling Meadows and many others, city residents enjoyed barbecues as well as just talking to their neighbors about how they can make their corner of Portsmouth safer.

"All in all I think we had a very successful event with 21 neighborhoods participating. There was a great effort put forth by elected officials and staff members at the Police department, Fire Department, and Department of public works to get out to the neighborhoods and talk about ways that we can become a safer more connected community," wrote Cristy Cardoso, chairperson of the Citywide Neighborhood Association. 

In addition to Portsmouth Police officers, Cardoso noted that members of the Seacoast Crime Stoppers also met with city residents and brought along McGruff the Crime Dog.

At Four Tree Island, Portsmouth Police Chief David "Lou" Ferland attended his final National Night Out as police chief. "You know what I'm most proud of? Twenty one neighborhoods in the community are doing it. That's a lot."

Ferland said Tuesday marked the first time the city has had 21 neighborhoods hold National Night Out celebrations and he attributed that number to greater participation from some Portsmouth Housing Authority neighborhoods.

On Richards Avenue, 3 1/2-year-old Danny Marchibroda, who already knows that he wants to become a police officer, firefighter or EMT someday, loved sitting in Deputy Police Chief Stephen DuBois unmarked cruiser and using the PA system. DuBois, Mayor Eric Spear, Police Commissioner John Golumb and Cardoso made the rounds to visit all 21 city neighborhoods.

What follows is an image gallery from Tuesday's National Night Out.