National Night Out, hosted by the Columbia Police Department, has been rescheduled for Oct. 9 at The Yards at Columbia.
According to a press release from the CPD, “National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes strong police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live and work. Together, we are making that happen.”
Chief Michael Kelly said the department is looking forward to building more relationships with the community at the event.
“It’s an event that connects the police with the community in a setting that is nonthreatening for the family and kids,” he said. “It gives people the opportunity to meet the police officers.”
National Project Coordinator, Matt Peskin, stated in the press release, “This is a night for our nation to stand together and promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity. National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement. When law enforcement and the community work closely together, some amazing things can happen.”
Columbia’s National Night Out had been held on Main Street in previous years, but Kelly said it always conflicted with the Kiwanis Club’s soccer league. He said the idea behind moving it to The Yards was to bring the event to the kids and families of Marion County.
“We’ll have police vehicles there, equipment for kids to play on and the fire department will be there with their stuff. There will be lots of giveaways and food options,” Kelly said. “We’re working really hard on having DNA kits this year to send home with families. Working with missing and exploited kids, this will make sure families have a DNA sample in a secure place in case something were to happen with their kid. … I’m really thinking this will be our biggest and best year.”
Kelly said most departments do it in August, but the CPD prefers to do it in October when it is a little cooler outside. Other first responder agencies are invited to participate as well.
The event Oct. 9 will begin at 5 p.m.
