Residents Connect With First Responders At National Night Out In Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Hundreds turned out Tuesday night for Doylestown Township's fifth National Night Out at Central Park.

As late afternoon gave way to evening, residents connected with regional first responders while enjoying frozen treats, pizza and complimentary hot dogs.

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National Night Out is all about bringing the public together and connecting residents with members of law enforcement, firefighters and the emergency medical services. Local events are also taking place in neighboring Buckingham and in nearby Solebury Township and Perkasie Borough this week.

Some of the highlights included a look inside an armored Bearcat used by the Central Bucks Special Response Team, the impressive Bucks County Workforce On Wheels (WOW) bus, and free slices of pizza from Lucatelli's.

The Central Bucks Special Response Team brought out its armored Bearcat for the event. The tactical law enforcement unit responds to high-risk crisis situations, such as barricaded subjects and active threats, in Central and Upper Bucks County (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Taking part in the National Night Out are, from left, Sergeant William E. Kirk, Dublin Borough Police; Chief Rich Clowser, New Britain Township Police; Cpl. John Blanchard, Warrington Township Police; and Captain Paul Kreuter, Central Bucks Regional Police Department.

Ken Sylvester with his 1957 Ford Police Car. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Warrington Officer Corey Fox with K-9 Abby. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Walking the beat at National Night Out. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

A large number of emergency response agencies were represented at the event, including police, fire, and EMS, along with numerous county and state agencies. Joining them at the event were Alpha K9 Search and Rescue, the Bucks County Rangers, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, the Bucks County Sheriff's Department, and the Bucks County Mobile Command Unit.

Victim Specialist Supervisor Karen Edwards was there representing the Victim Services Unit. The unit provides free services to victims of crime in Buckingham Township, Plumstead Township, and the three communities served by the Central Regional Police Department - Doylestown Borough, Chalfont Borough and New Britain Borough.

Through a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, the unit provides crime victims with advocacy and support, safety planning, emotional support, crisis intervention, community resource referrals, assistance through the criminal justice process, notification of Crime Victim's Rights and case update information.

Throughout the evening, canine officers from the Central Bucks Regional Police Department and the Warrington Police Department demonstrated the use of their K-9 partners in hunting down and catching suspects.

The evening also included an impressive display of departments and equipment, including police from Doylestown Township, Central Bucks Regional, Plumstead, New Britain Township, Solebury, Warrington, and Warwick; firefighters from Doylestown and Warrington; and EMS from Central Bucks, Point Pleasant-Plumsteadville and Warrington.

"We had a wonderful evening connecting with our community, meeting neighbors, and celebrating the partnerships that help keep Doylestown Township a safe and welcoming place to live," the township posted on Facebook. "A special thank you to our Doylestown Township Police and all the emergency responders from across the greater Doylestown area who participated."

As the sun sunk lower in the sky, many enjoyed frozen treats while others grabbed a hot dog and slice of pizza.

An officer hands out stickers at the event. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

From left are Victim Specialist Karen Edwards; Officer Kyle Maloney, Central Bucks Regional Police; and Peg Courts, medical psychotherapist, Central Bucks Regional Police Department. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Warrington Township firefighters brought Tower 29 to the event. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Slices of pizza from Lucatelli's were a "must-have" at the event. (Doylestown Township)