Celebrating police-community partnerships

Billed as a evening of community building, the event is designed to promote community-police partnerships, bringing law enforcement and community members together in a positive setting.

“This event is to get the community together and to show that law enforcement isn’t there against the people — we’re there with them, to help them,” he said. “We’re just like everyone else. We have kids and families and we’re here to help keep everybody safe,” said Sheriff Doug Timmons.

Timmons spearheaded the planning for the event which featured members of his department, the Webster City Police Department, Webster City Fire Department, Conservation, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Division of Criminal Investigation, Van Diest Medical Center, the Regional HazMat team, Iowa State Patrol and Motor Vehicle Enforcement. Special Olympics, Serving Our Servants, Building Families, Community and Family Resources and Crime Stoppers also had booths and activities during National Night Out.

“The weather was awesome,” Timmons said. “I was worried about it all day, but we’ve got music playing, food cooking and lots of people enjoying themselves.”

“This is a great turnout,” he said.

There were lots of giveaways for kids and handouts for parents. Law enforcement officials brought their vehicles and equipment. Kids had a chance to climb into a fire truck and a state trooper’s car. Also on display was a vintage police car — bearing markings from Mayberry — that Barney Fife might have driven to the park.

The evening provided an opportunity for neighbors to enjoy a meal together and to sit and visit in the shade of the park.

The National Night Out takes place on the first Tuesday in August and is observed all across the United States, Timmons said.