National Night Out: Let's Do This Again

A few thunder rolls and light sun showers Thursday didn't sway the kids from all over Aquidneck Island and beyond from claiming their fun and prizes at National Night Out on Easton's Beach and meeting the public safety officers who keep them safe.

Kids followed the Coast Guard's talking robot and McGruff the Crime Dog, saw an awesome karate demonstration from Villari Martial Arts, sang karaoke, ate pizza, sipped Del's, showed the military just how many push-ups they could do and, of course, learned a lot about accident prevention and personal safety.

"It's great to be able to do stuff like this because it's so important for people to foster a positive relationship between the police and public, " said Middletown Community Policing Officer Josh Mello, who invited kids to check out the mobile command unit and managed to slip in messages on bike safety and other prevention tips while he was at it. "Unfortunately, a lot of people only get to meet the police when they've been pulled over for speeding or have had other negative experiences, so community policing reaches out to them in some other, more positive way."

Added Mello, "With positive relations comes trust, and when you put the public and the police together working on the same team, there's just nothing that can beat that."

Mello's table outside his department's Mobile Command Unit was stockpiled with police bade stickers, coloring books, bike safety pocket cards, DARE magnets and other fun things that kept a stead flow of visitors happy.

Newport and Middletown police, local firefighters, the Coast Guard and military were also there to meet the public and take part in the fun.

"This is so great. The kids just love this. It rained last year and we were all so bummed," said one Middletown mom of three, whose toddler whisked them off to a neighboring table before I was able to get her name.

Patch also came out to take part in the event sticker giveaway that earned kids bags of prizes, many of which promoted safety education. I even got one lead on a lemonade stand on Paradise Avenue, in hopes of building a weekly driving or biking map to the local kids' summer start-ups.

While it was good for all of us to get the word out about our efforts, the event was first-and-foremost about the kids. Judging by the smiles on their faces as they collected stickers from each table (they had to collect a total of eight to play games and get free food), the children had a great time going around.

And on that note, thank you again to the Newport Police Department for inviting the Middletown and Portsmouth Patches, as well as the Newport Patch, to take part in such a positive event for all of Aquidneck Island. 

As Officer Josh said, when our local pubic safety officials work with the public, there's nothing we can't do, and as a necessary link between the two, we members of the Press are ready, honored and willing to help in any way we can.

Special thanks goes out to the Newport Police Department-Community Policing Unit and the Newport Recreation Department Children's Night Series, both whom sponsored the event.